Chairman. I believe that this proposal of the administration is sound. We have had this problem of agricultural migrants in our country since the beginning of the century. These people migrate because the farmer needs them to harvest seasonal crops and because they need work to support their families. They are without doubt among the most underprivileged of any group of workers in this great country. We pride ourselves. and rightly so. on the progress we have made in insuring the workers of America a high standard of living and the basic security to which we feel the American worker is entitled. But little or none of these privileges are accorded the migrant. In my State of New York. we have worked for years on this program and we have made progress. There is still much to be done and we know that since many problems are interstate in character that we can go only so far unless similar action is taken in other States. This is essentially a labor problem and Edward Corsi. the outstanding labor commissioner of my State of New York. has stated many times that this is a No. 1 problem of labor departments and that it is one on which the Federal and State government agencies must work together if we are to achieve results. Nongovernment groups. church. labor. and other voluntary agencies have given wide support to this proposal of the administration to get into action on this front on the national level after a quarter of a century. To vote for this money will not only be a vote toward a better life for the migrants and their families. it will be one way of insuring better and more stable workers for the farmers. We know this from our own experience in New York. I support the amendment of my colleague. the gentleman from Pennsylvania .
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