For each of the past few years. there has been a shortage of domestic workers available to growers in the eastern panhandle of West Virginia at the beginning of the harvest. In order to provide some relief to the growers without reducing the valid protection of domestic workers. I offered and had accepted an amendment to the immigration bills of the 97th and 98th Congresses that would modify the findings that the Secretary of Labor must make in order to issue a certification for growers to have access to temporary foreign workers. The amendment language required a finding that a worker must be able. willing. qualified. and who will be available at the time and at the place needed to perform the labor for which H2 workers are being requested. I am pleased that the language of that amendment is contained in section 122 of S. 1200. This language removes an unfair burden from growers in West Virginia and other States who may use relatively small numbers of H2 workers in agriculture. as it will streamline this program for temporary foreign workers and reduce a perennial barrier to the smooth operation of the harvest. I want to commend the distinguished chairman of the Immigration Subcommittee. Senator SIMPsoN. for his diligent. tireless. and painstaking efforts with respect to this legislation and his help and consideration of the special problems connected with the West Virginia fruit growers. I also wish to commend Senator KENNEDY. manager of the bill on the Democratic side. for his hard work on this legislation.
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Immigration immigration