Speech #1090119540

I dont think its fair to call the legislation passed by the Judiciary Committee a guest worker bill. It is more appropriately named a citizen worker bill because it provides a clear new path to citizenship for aliens who are currently in the United States illegally. I have a very simple question to ask all Members of the Senate as we debate this bill: Why is it necessary that we address the issue of U.S. citizenship when we are talking about immigration reform? There are reasons we need to deal with the people who are here illegally. There are reasons we need to deal with folks who want to come to this country for the right reasons. But why is it necessary in this legislation that we even consider the issue of U.S. citizenship? I am particularly concerned about the agricultural guest worker program adopted by the Judiciary Committee because I believe it is contrary to the best interests of American agriculture. Not only that. but it will punish those farmers who have been abiding by the law in this country and utilizing the H2A program. which has been a longstanding temporary guest worker program in the U.S. relative to agriculture. Because my focus in this debate will center on border security and a temporary agricultural guest worker program. I would like to take a few minutes to outline some of the problems I see with the Judiciary Committees agricultural guest worker program and indicate my intention to utilize the amendment process at the appropriate time to attempt to remedy what I regard as some shortcomings of the Judiciary Committees agricultural reform. Most troubling to me is that the agricultural reform provision provides amnesty to 1.5 million illegal workers in agriculture. Some might call it earned adjustment of status or earned citizenship. but I call it amnesty because it provides a clear path to citizenship for illegal agricultural workers who meet a very low threshold. These illegal workers will not have to return to their home countries and will not have to wait their turn in line to gain legal permanent resident status in the United States. The amnesty provision would allow illegal aliens who performed 863 hours. or 150 days. of agricultural work in the United States between January 1. 2003. and December 31. 2005. to qualify for a blue card. In legislation Senator KYL and I introduced a year ago and had on the floor previously. we had a blue card provision. That is not the blue card I am talking about this morning.