This means a mainstay in our economythe U.S. agriculture industryis threatened with a major breakdown. And our families are threatened with an increased risk to their health and safety because of foodborne diseases. Also. the current H2A program has been a redtape nightmare. Even when growers meet all deadlines. GAO found that DOL misses its statutory deadlines 40 percent of the time. The current H2A program has been completely ineffective as a means of obtaining temporary and seasonal workerssupplying only about 24.000 out of 1.6 million farm workers. In the 1996 Immigration Law. and in appropriations over recent years. Congress has made it a priority to secure our borders and crack down on illegal immigration. What is needed is a bipartisan effort to reform the current H2A system. having the following components: Creation of a new. voluntary national registry of migrant farmworkers to which growers can turn for workers they know are legal. If enough domestic workers cannot be supplied through the registry. growers could apply for legal guest workers through an expedited. reformed H2A program.. The new program would resemble current H2A. but it would have faster turnaround. less red tape. and greater certainty for employers. It would also have continued protection for workers. and greater flexibility for employers. related to conditions of employment. such as housing. transportation. and marketbased wages. I invite my colleagues to support me in this important endeavor.
Keywords matched
migrant illegal immigration H2A Immigration