Speech #930185790

During the past 5 years. the Nixon administration has been under constant attack for its failure to administer and enforce laws which protect farmworkers. In carrying out these practices. the administration has demonstrated time and time again its calculated and callous policy of totally Ignoring the concerns and needs of the politically and economically powerless people in this country. If the President were to mention the migrants and farmworkers in that part of the speech which he devoted to education. he would have to mention that he opposed the full funding of the migrant education programa program designed to meet the special educational needs of the children of migrant workers. If the President made reference to the farmworker in that part of his speech which he devoted to minimum wage. he would have to say that he opposed extending minimum wage coverage to all farmworkers and raising the present minimum wage for certain farmworkers from $1.30 an hour. He would have to admit that he evidently feels that farmworkers can afford to pay 1974 Nixon administration prices on 1930 Hoover administration wages. If the President referred to our agricultural workers in that part of his speech which he devoted to the health of our nation. he would have to mention that he opposed the continuation of the migrant health program. He would also have to say that his new health proposal would do virtually nothing for the migrant farmworker employed for short periods of time at low pay in diverse geographical locations. If the President discussed the agricultural workers in that part of his speech in which he talked about social security benefits. he would have to say that his administration has failed to vigorously enforce the Farm Labor Contractor Registration Act and that his failure to effectively enforce this act has resulted in millions of dollars of lost social security benefits to farmworkers. Mr. Nixon made no mention whatsoever of agricultural workers in that part of his speech which he devoted to manpower programs. The President could have mentioned how one of his former top aides deliberately planned to scatter and destroy the migrant programs authorized by title IIIB of the Economic Opportunity Act. which are now under the jurisdiction of the Manpower Division of the Department of Labor. He also could have mentioned that the grantees of this program from all over the country have experienced nothing but trouble and frustration in obtaining the urgently needed funds to which they are legally entitled. When he discussed the housing programs.