Speech #1040192388

I rise today in support of the Pombo amendment. and against the Goodlatte amendment. For those Members who see the Goodlatte amendment as a compromise on the guest worker program. dont be fooled. The Goodlatte amendment is another BandAid fix to the H2A programand fails to provide growers with a workable system for hiring temporary workers. The current H2A program is a program only a bureaucrat could love. Like most governmentrun programs. its too complextimeconsumingand inflexible for the real world. Our produce industry in eastern and southern Oregon will be devastated if they dont have the ability to hire farm workers in a timely manner. As we begin to crack down on Immigration. our growers need a program that will strike a balance between their needsand those who fear that a guest worker program will lead to more illegal immigration. The Pombo amendment strikes that balance. I urge my colleagues to support the Pombo amendment. and oppose the Goodlatte amendment.