Acting Labor Secretary Keith Sonderling Visits RGV to Address Manufacturing and Agricultural Labor

Acting Labor Secretary Keith Sonderling visited the Rio Grande Valley on Thursday to address workforce shortages with local manufacturing and agricultural leaders alongside Rep. Monica De La Cruz.

Sonderling also toured Stanley Black & Decker's Mission facility and took part in a roundtable with Rio Farms, Inc. on agricultural labor challenges.

A press conference with Sonderling was held at Texas Southmost College in Brownsville.

Stanley Black & Decker announced a $1 billion investment in U.S. manufacturing. Of that, $4.6 million will support the expansion of the Mission facility, which is expected to add 100 jobs to the plant's current 250 positions, according to a news release.

Sonderling said his visit was to check in on how policies in D.C. are impacting the Valley.

"Especially here in Brownsville. We see so many new jobs, we see so much construction, whether it's the LNG facility or SpaceX or other manufacturing coming to this area," Sonderling said.

The roundtable also highlighted Rep. De La Cruz's Fair Wages for Farm Workers Act, which her office said will streamline H-2A visas and provide long-term stability for Texas agricultural producers.