But farmworkers. many of whom travel from State to State in search of work. have no protection at all in most States. are actually specifically barred from protection in some States. including in the District of Columbia under an act of Congress. and are provided limited and secondrate coverage in most of the few States which provide them with any coverage at all. The bill I am introducing today extends the benefits of the Longshore and Harbor Workers Compensation Act to farmworkers. with some specific provisions applicable to farmworkers alone. Because much of the very high disease rate among farmworkers stems from the inadequate and unsanitary housingwhich is a part of the working life of many migrant farmworkers. I have included a provision allowing compensa.tion to be paid for illness and injury arising out of such living conditions where the housing is provided by the employer. The bill further retains for the employee a right of action against his employer if his disability or illness stems from the gross negligence of the employergross negligence being defined as including any violation of the Occupational Safety and Health Act or State or local safety and health laws.