Farm Workforce Modernization Act of 2021

Floor Speech

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Ms. LOFGREN. Madam Speaker, our country has come through a pandemic, and many of us have suffered, but there is one thing that we can be grateful for, and that is that the food chain was never disrupted.

Throughout the pandemic, we could go to the grocery store and there would be food in that store. For that, we need to thank the farmers of this country. But we also need to thank the farmworkers of this country, a majority of whom are undocumented and a majority of whom have been here more than 10 years.

What this bill does and how it was formed is important. I want to thank Representatives Dan Newhouse, Mike Simpson, Doug LaMalfa, and many others on the Republican side of the aisle. I worked with Jim Costa, Jimmy Panetta, and many others to try to see if we could come together to come up with solutions for the challenges that we face in farm country.

We pulled together growers and the farmworkers union to talk together for solutions. It took us almost a year of growers and the farmworkers union, and Republicans and Democrats, sitting around a table to come up with this bill.

It has basically three provisions.

The first recognizes that we have had undocumented farmworkers in our fields for decades. It allows them to get a certified agricultural worker card so that they can work without fear. That is a temporary worker status. They can renew it, travel, pay taxes, and continue forever in that status. After working for a long period of time, they and their families have the option of applying for legal permanent residence if they choose.

The second provision streamlines an existing program, the H-2A program, so that we will have a legal supply of farmworkers in the future. Both labor and employers agreed to those streamlines.

The final provision says that if we have a system that works, then we need to enforce that system. We are going to have the E-Verify system used in agriculture after this bill is fully implemented.

Who is in favor of this? The Arizona Nursery Association, California Farm Bureau Federation, Georgia Milk Producers, Michigan Greenhouse Growers Council, Minnesota Milk Producers Association, Ohio Produce Growers Marketing Association, Texas Association of Dairymen, and hundreds of other growers.

Madam Speaker, I include in the Record a list of Farmers and Producers Associations supporting H.R. 1603. [From the House Committee on the Judiciary] Over 250 Farmers and Producers Associations Support H.R. 1603

African-American Farmers of California; Ag Valley Cooperative, Non-Stock; AgCountry Farm Credit Services; Agribusiness Henderson County (NC); Agricultural Council of California; Agri-Mark, Inc.; Alabama Farmers Cooperative, Inc.; Alabama Nursery and Landscape Association; Almond Alliance; Amalgamated Sugar Company; American AgCredit; American AgriWomen; American Beekeeping Federation; American Honey Producers Association; American Mushroom Institute; American Pistachio Growers; American Seed Trade Association; American Sheep Industry Association (ASI); AmericanHort; Arizona Dairy Producers Trade Association; Arizona Nursery Association; Associated Milk Producers Inc.; Aurora Organic Dairy; Bluebird Bonanza Farms; Bongards' Creameries; CalChamber.

California Apple Commission; California Association of Food Banks; California Association of Wheat Growers; California Avocado Commission; California Blueberry Association; California Blueberry Commission; California Canning Peach Association; California Cherry Growers and Industry Association; California Citrus Mutual; California Dairies, Inc.; California Date Commission; California Dried Plum Board; California Farm Bureau Federation; California Fig Advisory Board; California Fresh Fruit Association; California Pear Growers Association; California Seed Association; California State Floral Association; California Strawberry Commission; California Sweet Potato Council; California Tomato Growers Association; California Walnut Commission; California Warehouse Association.

California Women for Agriculture; Cayuga Milk Ingredients; Center for Dairy Excellence (Pennsylvania); Central Valley Ag Coop; Certified American Grown; Chobani; CHS Inc.; Co- Alliance Cooperative, Inc.; CoBank; Colorado Dairy Farmers; Colorado Nursery and Greenhouse Association; Colorado Potato Legislative Association; Cooperative Milk Producers Association; Cooperative Producers, Inc.; Costa Farms; Dairy Farmers of America, Inc.; Dairy Producers of New Mexico; Dairy Producers of Utah; Edge Dairy Farmer Cooperative; Ellsworth Cooperative Creamery; Empire State Potato Growers; Far West Agribusiness Association; Farm Credit East; Farmers Cooperative.

FarmFirst Dairy Cooperative; Federation of Employers and Workers of America; First District Association; Florida Agri- Women; Florida Citrus Mutual; Florida Fruit and Vegetable Association; Florida Nursery, Growers and Landscape Association; Florida Strawberry Growers Association; Florida Tomato Exchange; Food Northwest; Food Producers of Idaho; Foremost Farms USA; Frenchman Valley Farmers Cooperative Inc.; Fresh Harvest/Steve Scaroni (CA); Fresno County Farm Bureau (CA); Georgia Green Industry Association; Georgia Milk Producers, Inc.; Georgia Urban Ag Council; Glanbia Nutritionals; Idaho Alfalfa/Clover Seed Commission; Idaho Alfalfa/Clover Seed Growers Association; Idaho Apple Commission; Idaho Association of Commerce and Industry; Idaho Bankers Association; Idaho Cattleman's Association.

Idaho Dairymen's Association; Idaho Grain Producers Association; Idaho Grower Shippers Association; Idaho Hispanic Chamber of Commerce; Idaho Hop Growers Association; Idaho Horticulture Society; Idaho Milk Products; Idaho Mint Growers Association; Idaho Nursery and Landscape Association; Idaho Onion Growers Association; Idaho Potato Commission; Idaho Sugarbeet Growers; Idaho-Oregon Fruit & Vegetable Association; Illinois Green Industry Association; Indiana Nursery and Landscape Association; Indiana Outdoor Maintenance Alliance; International Dairy Foods Association; Iowa Institute for Cooperatives; Iowa Nursery & Landscape Association; Iowa State Dairy Association; Kansas Dairy Association; Land O'Lakes, Inc.; Laurel Springs Nursery, LLC (NC); Leitz Farms LLC/Fred Leitz (MI); Lone Star Milk Producers; Madera County Farm Bureau (CA); Maine Landscape & Nursery Association; Maine Potato Board.

Maryland & Virginia Milk Producers Cooperative Association; Maryland Nursery, Landscape, and Greenhouse Association, Inc.; Massachusetts Nursery and Landscape Association, Inc.; MBG Marketing; McCain USA Inc.; Michigan Apple Association; Michigan Greenhouse Growers Council; Michigan Milk Producers Association; Michigan Nursery and Landscape Association; Mid Kansas Cooperative; Midwest Apple Improvement Association; Midwest Dairy Coalition; Milk Producers Council; Milk Producers of Idaho; Minnesota Milk Producers Association; Minnesota Nursery & Landscape Association; Missouri Green Industry Alliance; Montana Nursery and Landscape Association; Monterey County Farm Bureau (CA); Mount Joy Farmers Cooperative Association; Napa Vinters Association; National All-Jersey Inc.; National Council of Agricultural Employers; National Council of Farmer Cooperatives; National Farmers Union; National Grange; National Milk Producers Federation.

National Onion Association; National Potato Council; National Young Farmers Coalition; Nebraska Cooperative Council; Nebraska State Dairy Association; New England Apple Council; New Jersey Landscape Contractors Association; New Jersey Nursery & Landscape Association; New Mexico Chapter, Colorado Nursery and Greenhouse Association; New York Apple Association; New York Farm Bureau; New York State Flower Industries; New York State Vegetable Growers Association; Nezperce Prairie Grass Growers Association; Nisei Farmers League; North American Blueberry Council; North Carolina Dairy Producers Association; North Carolina Nursery & Landscape Association; North Carolina Potato Association; Northeast Dairy Farmers Cooperatives; Northeast Dairy Producers Association, Inc.; Northern Family Farms LLP, Merrillan, WI; Northern Plains Potato Growers Association; Northwest Ag Cooperatives Council; Northwest Dairy Association/Darigold; Northwest Horticultural Council.

Ohio Apple Marketing Program; Ohio Dairy Producers Association; Ohio Fruit Growers Marketing Association; Ohio Landscape Association; Ohio Nursery & Landscape Association; Ohio Produce Growers Marketing Assocation; Oklahoma Nursery & Landscape Association; Olive Growers Council of California; Oneida-Madison Milk Producers Cooperative Association; Oregon Association of Nurseries; Oregon Dairy Farmers Association; Oregon Potato Commission; Pacific Northwest Christmas Tree Association; PennAg Industries Association; Pennsylvania Cooperative Potato Growers; Pennsylvania Landscape and Nursery Association; Plant California Alliance; Potato Growers of Michigan, Inc; Prairie Farms Dairy, Inc.; Professional Dairy Managers of Pennsylvania; Reiter Affiliated Companies; Rhode Island Nursery and Landscape Association; San Diego County Farm Bureau (CA); Scioto Cooperative Milk Producers' Association; Select Milk Producers, Inc.; Simplot; South Dakota Association of Cooperatives; South Dakota Dairy Producers; Southeast Milk Inc.; Southern States Cooperative; Stanislaus County Farm Bureau (CA).

Sunkist Growers, Inc.; Sunmaid Growers of California; Sunsweet Growers Inc.; Tennessee Farmers Cooperative; Texas Agricultural Cooperative Council; Texas Association of Dairymen; Texas Citrus Mutual; Texas Nursery & Landscape Association; Tillamook County Creamery Association; Tree Top; Tulare County Farm Bureau (CA); Turfgrass Producers International; U.S. Apple Association; U.S. Durum Growers Association; United Dairymen of Arizona; United Fresh Produce Association; United Potato Growers of America; Upstate Niagara Cooperative, Inc.; Utah Apple Marketing Board; Utah Horticulture Association; Utah Nursery & Landscape Association; Utah Tart Cherry Marketing Board.

Valley Fig Growers; Valley Vision (CA); Ventura County Agricultural Association (CA); Vermont Dairy Producers Alliance; Virginia Apple Growers Association; Virginia Nursery & Landscape Association; Virginia State Dairymen's Association; Washington Growers League; Washington State Dairy Federation; Washington State Nursery & Landscape Association; Washington State Potato Commission; Washington State Tree Fruit Association; West Virginia Nursery & Landscape Association; Western Growers Association; Western Plant Health Association; Western States Dairy Producers Association; Western United Dairies; Wine Institute; WineAmerica; Wisconsin Landscape Contractors Association; Wisconsin Potato & Vegetable Growers Association; Yuma Fresh Vegetable Association.

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Ms. LOFGREN. Madam Speaker, we have many others, including labor. We have the National Association of Counties, United Farm Workers, Service Employees International Union, U.S. Chamber of Commerce, and Conference of Catholic Bishops.

Madam Speaker, I include in the Record a list of organizations supporting H.R. 1603. [From the House Committee on the Judiciary]

More Than 100 Organizations, Representing Labor Unions, Immigrants' Rights, and Business Interests Have Expressed Their Support for H.R. 1603 Labor Unions and Immigrant Rights Advocates

United Farm Workers (UFW); UFW Foundation; Farmworker Justice; African Communities Together; America's Voice; American Immigration Lawyers Association; Association of Farmworker Opportunity Programs; Bend the Arc: Jewish Action; Bipartisan Policy Center Action; Bridges Faith Initiative; Carbondale Branch NAACP; CASA; Center for American Progress; Center for Law and Social Policy (CLASP); Central American Resource Center of Northern CA--CARECEN SF; Centro de los Derechos del Migrante, Inc.; Child Labor Coalition; Children's Defense Fund; Church World Service; El Colectivo NC; Faith in Public Life; Farmworker and Landscaper Advocacy Project--FLAP--FWD.us; Greater New York Labor-Religion Coalition; Health Outreach Partners; Hispanic Federation; Immigrant Worker Project--Centro San Jose; Immigration Hub.

Justice for Migrant Women; Justice in Motion; La Union del Pueblo Entero; Latino Service Center; Leadership Conference of Women Religious; Legal Aid Society of Metropolitan Family Services; LIUNA; LULAC; MI Familia Vota; Migrant Legal Aid (Michigan); MomsRising/MamasConPoder; NAACP; National Consumers League; National Domestic Workers Alliance; National Immigration Forum; NC Justice Center; NETWORK Lobby For Catholic Social Justice; New American Economy; Ohio Immigrant Alliance; Oxfam America; PCUN; Service Employees International Union (SEIU); The Advocates for Human Rights; The Foundation for Farmworkers; The LIBRE Initiative; U.S. Hispanic Leadership Institute; UndocuBlack Network; USHLI. Business, Community, and Other Organizations

Americans for Prosperity; National Association of Counties (NACo); National Association of State Departments of Agriculture (NASDA); National Education Association (NEA); Maryland Pesticide Education Network; PhDTrekkers; Rochelle Township High School; South Central Idaho Hispanic Chamber of Commerce; Union for Reform Judaism; U.S. Chamber of Commerce; U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops; U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce.

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Ms. LOFGREN. Madam Speaker, I ask that we come together and pass this bill. America will be stronger and better if we do.

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Ms. LOFGREN. Madam Speaker, may I inquire how much time remains on both sides?

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Ms. LOFGREN. Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Cuellar).

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Ms. LOFGREN. No, I do not.

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Ms. LOFGREN. Madam Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time.

There has been a lot of rhetoric today about the border, and I think it is important to address some of it.

First, let's get the facts straight. The uptick in apprehensions at the southern border began in April 2020, last year, long before we knew President Biden was even going to become the Democratic nominee, much less the President.

They ignored the Trafficking Victims Protection Act. That was a bipartisan bill. Congressman Chris Smith from New Jersey was the lead on the Republican side. I worked on it on our side along with others. It had a very precise protocol for what to do when an unaccompanied child presented at the border, a potential trafficking victim.

Instead of following that protocol, the prior administration would simply take that child, an 11- or 12-year-old little girl, and turn her back into Mexico, not knowing what would happen to her.

Now, those children who have been in squalid camps for the last year are being addressed pursuant to the Trafficking Victims Protection Act. It is correct that we have had more children present than we were prepared to deal with, and there was a scramble to take care of those children properly. But it has nothing to do with the Farm Work Modernization Act.

I listened with some interest to the suggestion that there needs to be a change in the Migrant and Seasonal Agricultural Worker Protection Act provisions of this bill. Currently, H-2A employers must comply with the H-2A program requirements, which largely meet or exceed MSPA. The primary difference is that the DOL stands in the place of the foreign farmworker in bringing forward cases of alleged violation of the H-2A program.

The Fair Labor Standards Act and a number of other Federal and State laws apply to the H-2A program, but it is worth noting that any H-2A employer that employs one or more domestic workers who perform seasonal or temporary agricultural work is already covered under MSPA, and that would be close to like all employers. This bill would formally place all employers of H-2A workers under MSPA, impacting only those who hire no domestic employees.

The idea that there needs to be a right to cure has merit, except it is already addressed in this bill because it requires mandatory mediation. If there is a problem that can be fixed, it will be fixed in the mediation system. That is quite new.

The other thing to point out is that there are no attorney's fees provided for in the bill or in MSPA, so the idea that somehow this is a windfall for the trial bar is simply incorrect.

There is a great Q&A truth setting in a publication called Hoard's Dairyman, ``What the Farm Workforce Act could mean.'' I include the article in the Record. [From Hoard's Dairyman, Mar. 15, 2021] What the Farm Workforce Act Could Mean (By Bob Gray)

The Farm Workforce Modernization Act, bipartisan bill H.R. 1603, was reintroduced this week by Congresswoman Zoe Lofgren (D-Calif.) and Congressman Dan Newhouse (R-Wash.). It could be taken up by the full House this week.

Here are some additional details about the bill. Most of this information came from the four Republican leads-- Representatives Dan Newhouse (R-Wash.), Mike Simpson (R- ldaho), Mario Diaz-Balart (R-Fla.), and Doug LaMalfa (R- Calif.). Before reading further, I want to reiterate, however, that this is a bipartisan bill with support from both sides of the aisle.

The Farm Workforce Modernization Act (FWMA) expands the current H-2A seasonal worker program to include full-time, year-round workers for dairy and other agricultural businesses.

The bill is not perfect, but it is a very good start in providing an extremely important piece of the legislative reform needed by dairy farmers. Right now, as you all know, we have no program. We have never had an immigration worker program in the past.

When the bill goes before the House next week, you will hear various pros and cons about it in the press. Therefore, I thought it would be useful to include a ``Facts and Myths'' sheet about the legislation so you can fully understand its provisions and not be misled by information that is incorrect. This is what the Farm Workforce Modernization Act does

Simplifies H-2A by reducing duplicative paperwork--only one filing needed instead of three.

Bureaucracy is reduced even further for many farmers with staggered labor needs. Farmers can file one petition for the entire season, allowing for staggered entry of H-2A workers.

Modernizes recruitment by allowing employers to post job openings on an online job registry. No classified ads are required.

Reduces labor costs by freezing wages for one year and capping wage growth thereafter. The adverse effect wage rate is replaced in later years.

Makes available 60,000 year-round H-2A visas over the first three years, growing annually by 12.5%. Dairy is guaranteed at least half of these visas, and any unused visas are available for other agriculture industries.

Stabilizes the existing workforce by giving legitimate farmworkers a chance to get a five-year Certified Agriculture Worker (CAW) visa to work in U.S. agriculture. As long as the worker continues to meet minimum days in agriculture annually, the worker can continue to work in the U.S. with unlimited five-year renewals. CAWs can cross the border as they need without restriction.

CAWs can earn the opportunity to apply for a green card by paying a penalty and continuing to work in agriculture for at least eight years. If a CAW can prove 10 years of prior work in agriculture, they can apply for a green card after four years. Myths and facts

MYTH: This bill will codify wage surveys into law and result in multiple wage classes. Under this bill, wages will be much higher than the current Adverse Effect Wage Rate (AEWR).

FACT: This bill provides for greater certainty and granularity in wages. First, this bill applies a one-year freeze of wages across all categories at the current year's rate. After the one-year freeze, all wage rates are then limited in any increases year over year to 3.25% with the ability to decrease 1.5%. (Exception: If the resulting wage is less than 110% of the federal or state minimum wage, then the wage could increase an additional percentage point to 4.25%.) After year 10, the AEWR requirement ends, and the Secretaries of Agriculture and Labor must develop a new wage standard with input from stakeholders. If Congress fails to act to control and reform AEWR, some estimates have shown AEWR rates could rise 7% to 8% annually in the coming years.

MYTH: Adjusted workers are treated immediately as U.S. workers, thus requiring employers to hire them. This displaces previous H-2A workers.

FACT: This bill includes a provision that allows employers to prioritize their longtime H-2A workers over new Certified Agriculture Workers (CAWs). CAWs have a requirement to work in agriculture that no domestic worker has. Because of that requirement and proven experience in agriculture work, CAWs do receive preference over new foreign agriculture workers. There is no expansion of the current workforce; CAW workers are already here and working in agriculture. The bill eliminates the legal chaos farmers and workers face today.

MYTH: This bill does not allow agricultural associations to file as agents on behalf of their members.

FACT: This bill does not affect the ability of associations to file as agents. The bill allows associations to file as agents, or as a joint or sole employer of workers.

MYTH: This bill provides no relief for dairies or year- round agriculture.

FACT: This bill creates year-round access to the H-2A program for dairy and other agricultural sectors that desperately need workers but have previously been unable to utilize the program. Without this bill, year-round agriculture has no access to a legal foreign workforce.

MYTH: This bill would create new funding for the Legal Services Corporation.

FACT: There is no new funding in this bill for the Legal Services Corporation.

MYTH: This bill requires farmworker housing to meet Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) standards.

FACT: Farmworker housing is already required to meet OSHA standards, and DOL requires annual approved inspections before approving a certification. The bill makes no changes to that requirement, and in fact, reduces the inspection to every two years. The bill provides $11 billion in additional funds to offset costs for grower-provided and other farmworker housing.

MYTH: This bill establishes a new bureaucratic complaint/ investigation process that allows anyone to file a complaint.

FACT: There is no new process established in this bill. It simply codifies existing regulations.

MYTH: The bill requires more reporting on employer recruitment efforts.

FACT: There are no additional reporting requirements in this bill, and requirements for recruitment efforts have been simplified and modernized.

MYTH: This bill creates a new private right of action for H-2A workers under the Migrant and Seasonal Agricultural Worker Protection Act (MSPA).

FACT: Currently, H-2A employers must comply with the H-2A program requirements, which largely meet or exceed MSPA. The primary difference is that DOL stands in the place of the foreign farmworker in bringing forward cases of alleged violations of the H-2A program, the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), and a number of other federal and state laws. In addition, any H-2A employer that employs one or more domestic worker who performs seasonal or temporary agricultural work is also currently covered under MSPA. The bill would formally place all employers of H-2A workers under MSPA (impacting only those who currently hire no domestic employees for seasonal or temporary work) while creating a new mandatory mediation requirement for any claim not just filed under MSPA but extended it to claims under the H-2A program and FLSA. Mandatory mediation could help reduce litigation costs and attorney fees for growers, in part by resolving frivolous claims before reaching the court room.

MYTH: This bill gives workers up to two years to file a legal claim against an employer, even after the worker has returned to their home country.

FACT: Under current statue, H-2A workers already get this. There is nothing new in this bill. Many state-based claims have longer statute of limitations.

MYTH: This bill gives the Department of Labor (DOL) a new ability to sue on behalf of employees.

FACT: Under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), DOL already has this ability. There is nothing new in this bill.

MYTH: To overcome a denial of labor certification, this legislation places the burden of proof on employers to show that domestic workers were turned away for lawful reasons.

FACT: Nothing new is in this bill. This provision already exists under current law.

MYTH: This bill permits very limited appeals and does not grant de novo appeals of denials or Notice of Disagreement (NOD).

FACT: This bill allows employers to quickly fix application deficiencies, as with current law. The bill, however, improves this process by creating a new emergency procedure for farmers so issues are fixed faster and workers are not delayed. It also allows for post-certification modifications.

MYTH: This bill establishes a new requirement for employers to provide housing for domestic workers outside of a 50-mile distance.

FACT: The bill does not change any current housing requirements. As with current law, the requirement to provide housing applies only to U.S. workers who live outside of the normal commuting distance for the area.

MYTH: The bill makes no meaningful reform to the high housing costs in the H-2A program.

FACT: The bill makes historic investments in farmworker housing while reducing employer costs in providing such housing, including to H-2A workers. The bill provides $1 billion to rehabilitate existing housing, triples federal funding for USDA Section 514/516 rural housing and grant programs, and doubles funding for the Section 521 rental assistance program. The bill also reduces the cost of providing housing to H-2A workers by making operating assistance subsidies available to 514/516 property owners who house H-2A workers.

MYTH: Mandatory E-Verify just for agriculture means thousands of year-round employers will have no access to labor whatsoever.

FACT: This bill provides a way for the current workforce to get right with the law, which means they would be compliant with E-Verify. As noted above, the bill provides employers with two avenues for hiring new year-round workers. The E- Verify requirement would only apply to new hires and is phased in, beginning three years after enactment.

MYTH: Illegal farmworkers, their spouses, and all their dependents are provided a special, expedited path to legal, permanent residence and will move out of agriculture and into other jobs in the economy.

FACT: This bill does not create an immediate path to permanent residence. First, it creates a temporary legal status that can only be renewed with significant agricultural work. Second, the bill provides the option of earning permanent residence through continued agricultural work, but it would take at a minimum five to 10 years to earn such status, depending on the amount of past agricultural work the worker could demonstrate. These significant past and future work commitments would ensure the stability of American agriculture for years to come. Spouses and dependents receive the same protections that currently exist in the H-2A program.

MYTH: The bill puts AEWR into law after 2029 with no increase or decrease in caps. Keeping the AEWR for another 10 years and preserving it in statute means employers will see no relief.

FACT: After year 10, the AEWR requirement ends, and the Secretaries of Agriculture and Labor must develop a new wage standard with input from stakeholders.

MYTH: The bill provides new authority for the DOL to award back wages, penalties, and damages and/or to debar employers from the program for five years or permanently.

FACT: The DOL already has authority to temporarily debar bad actors. This bill would give the DOL new authority to permanently debar individuals who have previously been debarred and are habitual violators of the program's requirements.

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Ms. LOFGREN. We have labored long and hard, those of us in our bipartisan group that worked to solve a problem that our country has, which is we need a stable workforce in the agricultural sector.

I thank last year's chairman of the Agriculture Committee, Collin Peterson, for the work that he did on this bill; this year's chair who also supports this bill, Mr. Scott; as well as the ranking member who said that he would vote for it even though there are some things he would like to change. It is a compromise, and it was worked on for almost over a year to get to this point.

We believe that having a legal workforce in agriculture that will give stability is not only good for those workers, but it is good for their employers, and it is good for America.

We believe that making sure that there is a future flow of a legal workforce not only into farms but now into dairy is good for America because we think immigration ought to be legal. It ought to be regularized. It ought to be orderly. That is what this bill would accomplish.

Finally, there has been a lot of talk about enforcement. This bill has enforcement in it. When the bill is implemented, we will have a strategy in a legal way to meet the needs of agriculture in America. If we have that as law, we ought to enforce that law. That is why, on a bipartisan basis, we agreed that E-Verify ought to be applied to this whole sector.

This is a package that will make America stronger. It is fair to farmworkers. It is fair to farmers. And it is good for America. I hope that people will vote for it on both sides of the aisle. So many of us worked together to bring it to this point.

Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

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