Mr. Speaker. the necessity for domestic farm labor legislation has become most urgent and must be given top priority by every Member of Congress who intends to vote against extension of Public Law 78. commonly known as the "bracero" program. A recent publication of the National Advisory Committee on Farm Labor entitled "Agribusiness and Its Workers." clearly sets forth the deplorable plight of farmworkers and migrants. They have neither economic nor political power. They are unorganized and most often are disenfranchised. by race. by lack of permanent residence. by poverty and by ignorance. As the NACFL reminds us. "the most surprising aspect of farmworkers deprivation is the deliberate way in which they have been excluded from the legal protections that Americans have agreed other workers need: a minimum wage. a ban on child labor. a guarantee of the right to organize in unions and bargain collectively. disability insurance. and compulsory workmens compensation." Specific programs must be undertaken immediately by the Federal Government to achieve a realistic solution to these problems. The general Subcommittee on Labor held hearings and reported to the full Committee on Education and Labor a bill which would provide standards and compulsory registration of labor contractors of migrant agricultural workers. On June 4. 1963. it was reported from the full committee and a rule was requested. No action by the Rules Committee has been taken as of this date.
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migrant migrants