Chairman. I rise In strong support of the PomboChambliss amendment to Implement an effective guestworker program Mr. Chairman. my constituents in central Washington State are no different from the great majority of Americans who support Immigration reform. But my constituents realize that our biggest industryagriculture--must be protected. The fact of the matter is that agriculture is a seasonal business. Pruning. thinning. and harvesting all have their time throughout the year. These activities are labor Intensive. And the labor required has historically been migrant labor. To not recognize this basic fact places a huge burden on the largest Industry In Washington State. The PomboChambliss amendment addresses this concern and. at the same time transfers the enforcement burden to the Department of Labor to correct what was a shortcoming of the 1986 Immigration Reform and Control Act. At the same time. in conjunction with a strengthened Border Patrol. the Pombo amendment would reduce illegal Immigration by providing incentives for seasonal workers to comply with our Immigration laws. I strongly support this commonsense proposal. and encourage my colleagues to vote "yes" on the PomboChambliss amendment.
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