Speech #1090136404

That sounds like a temporary worker. doesnt it? It sounds like a guest. like somebody who stays in your bedroom for a weekend. a guest. temporary guest. Interesting. section 408 sets out the temporary guest worker visa program task force. So a little further down it has what is called a temporary guest worker visa program task force. So you would think they are writing in this section. would you not. something about the task force. But this. down in that section. this task force establishes the number of H2C visas that may be issued annually and subsection (h) is where the writers of the bill hid the provision that actually transforms these socalled temporary workers into legal. permanent residents. OK? So all the big print. "temporary guest workers." "temporary guest worker task force." and then you read in that section down there that it effectively converts them from temporary workers to legal permanent residents. granting them a green card. It is tucked away in a title that has nothing to do with substance of that matter. So I am pleased that my staff and others who have been reading the bill have discovered that. It wasnt discovered early on in the process. Family members of H2C visa holder need not be healthy. Under current law. aliens must prove that they are admissible and meet certain health standards. Many times. visa applicants must have a medical exam to show that they do not have a communicable disease. They have to be uptodate on immunizations. and cannot have mental disorders. Spouses and children of H2C visa holders. however. are not required to have a medical exam before receiving a visa. I have an amendment to fix this that I hope is accepted. The work requirement for a blue card can be satisfied in a matter of hours. Under the AgJOBS component of the substitute. illegal alien agricultural workers who have worked 150 "workdays" in agriculture over the last 2 years will receive a "blue card." allowing them to live and work permanently in the U.S. However. because current law defines an agricultural "workday" as 1 hour of work per daythe bill language restates that definition on page 397an alien who has worked for as little as 150 hours--there are 168 hours in a weekin agriculture over the last 2 years will qualify for a blue card. Blue card aliens can only be fired for just cause. unlike an American citizen worker who is likely under an employment at will agreement with the agricultural employer.