Mr. President. I also cannot understand the inconsistency of the Administration enacting the H1B hightech worker bill and not enacting H2A reform as embodied in our AgJOBS bill. Our AgJOBS bill contains worker benefits far in excess of those provided by the HlB hightech worker bill. Our bill guarantees aboveprevailing wages for lower wage occupations. free housing to both U.S. and foreign workers recruited from outside the local area. reimbursement of inbound and return transportation costs to both U.S. and foreign workers recruited from outside the local area. and penalties that include lifetime program debarment for violations. The H1B requires only the prevailing wage without any housing or transportation benefits and provides a maximum penalty of a 3year debarment. Mr. President. we cannot continue to allow our farmers and farmworkers to be trapped in a system that rewards illegal labor practices and punishes the most vulnerable. As we address reform of the H2A immigrant visa program early next year. I hope my colleagues will work with me to finally safeguard basic human rights. provide a reliable documented work force for farmers. and reward legal conduct to both farmers and farmworkers.
Keywords matched
H1B immigrant visa H2A