President. I point out again some of the reasons why this money is so desperately needed. First. the average migrant home consists of two rooms for an average family of 6.5 persons. Second. a study compiled by the Farmers Home Administration last year indicates a need for more than 100.000 new and rehabilitated housing units for migrant farmworkers alone. When nonmigratory farm workers are included. the need is 3 or 4 times that number. In other words. we are talking about a need of 300.000 or 400.000 new homes for these farm workers. They are not just migrants. they are people that live in a community and work on a permanent basis in the fields. The $5 million recommended by the Appropriations Committee would support only 1.300 units. Only 1.300 units. Mr. President. when we need a minimum of 400.000. Third. migrant housing in many areas is either nonexistent or so substandard that it is subject to condemnation. I suggest to everyone who is interested in the problem. including the distinguished chairman of the subcommittee. that many farmworkers live in conditions that we would not allow for the family pet or for livestock. Funding of -the farm labor housing program. in my opinion. is vital to our farmworkers.
Keywords matched
migrants migrant