Sens. McCain and Kennedy introduce new immigration bill
Sens. McCain and Kennedy introduce new immigration bill
WASHINGTON -- A new, bipartisan immigration reform bill just introduced to overhaul the guestworker program will elevate the level of debate in Congress, but it is still unclear whether the foreign labor-dependent farmers will get any relief.
With much fanfare, Sens. John McCain (R-AZ) and Edward Kennedy (D-MA), joined by other lawmakers, introduced a comprehensive bill on May 12.
"I don't believe there is another issue that is more important to our nation than immigration reform," said Sen. McCain. "For far too long, our nation's broken immigration laws have gone unreformed leaving Americans vulnerable.
"This bill establishes a new market-based temporary worker program so that when there is no U.S. worker to fill a job, employers will be able to hire willing and able foreign workers who have gone through security background checks, medical exams and paid a fee for their visa, continued Sen. McCain. "And, by doing away with outdated numerical caps on this program, this bill recognizes that the needs of the U.S. economy are constantly in flux, and our immigration system must match those needs.
The new bill "underscores the urgency of dealing with immigration reform, said Roy Gabriel, legislative director of labor affairs for the California Farm Bureau Federation. It does not address agricultural workers specifically, but he believes the two bills would fit together nicely, since Sens. McCain and Kennedy are co-sponsors of AgJOBS.
This bill comes as Sen. Larry Craig (R-ID) has been trying to push the Agricultural Job Opportunities, Benefits & Security Act of 2005, or AgJOBS, onto the Senate floor. That bill -- often described as a delicate compromise among farmworker organizations, labor unions and agricultural employers -- would give agricultural workers the chance to become legal immigrants and ensure a stable labor supply for agricultural employers. AgJOBS may be close to passing the Senate this year, but it is expected to face a stiff challenge in the House.
We fully expect the senator will bring [AgJOBS] up again, said Mr. Gabriel, as the legislation fared well on the last Senate vote, though it didn't pass. "If nothing else, the McCain/Kennedy bill raises the level of debate. This is not a problem isolated to agriculture, he said.
Agriculture policy experts are still digesting the massive McCain/Kennedy bill, but some believe there may be problems for agriculture. American Farm Bureau Federation's Austin Perez praised the bill for creating a new electronic work authorization system to replace the paper-based, fraud-prone I-9 system. This would eliminate the inadvertent hiring of illegal workers, he said.
But the group opposes legislation, including AgJOBs, that would allow these farmworkers to adjust to permanent status, because those workers usually end up leaving agriculture, he said. After workers leave the jobs, the new legislation would make it difficult for farmers to hire other workers, he said.
The Secure America & Orderly Immigration Act would require a plan to modernize border security and create a new temporary program up to six years for foreign workers.
Under the bill, undocumented immigrants in the U.S. now could register for a temporary visa. Applicants have to show work history, a clean criminal record and that they are not a security problem to be eligible for temporary visas. To qualify for permanent status, workers would need to meet future work requirements, clear background checks, pay substantial application fees as well as back taxes and meet English language requirements. Workers who lose their jobs would have 60 days to find another or return home.
Meanwhile, California Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D) said that she opposes sweeping immigration reform, such as the McCain/Kennedy bill, and plans to introduce her own measure to reform the agricultural worker program.
With much fanfare, Sens. John McCain (R-AZ) and Edward Kennedy (D-MA), joined by other lawmakers, introduced a comprehensive bill on May 12.
"I don't believe there is another issue that is more important to our nation than immigration reform," said Sen. McCain. "For far too long, our nation's broken immigration laws have gone unreformed leaving Americans vulnerable.
"This bill establishes a new market-based temporary worker program so that when there is no U.S. worker to fill a job, employers will be able to hire willing and able foreign workers who have gone through security background checks, medical exams and paid a fee for their visa, continued Sen. McCain. "And, by doing away with outdated numerical caps on this program, this bill recognizes that the needs of the U.S. economy are constantly in flux, and our immigration system must match those needs.
The new bill "underscores the urgency of dealing with immigration reform, said Roy Gabriel, legislative director of labor affairs for the California Farm Bureau Federation. It does not address agricultural workers specifically, but he believes the two bills would fit together nicely, since Sens. McCain and Kennedy are co-sponsors of AgJOBS.
This bill comes as Sen. Larry Craig (R-ID) has been trying to push the Agricultural Job Opportunities, Benefits & Security Act of 2005, or AgJOBS, onto the Senate floor. That bill -- often described as a delicate compromise among farmworker organizations, labor unions and agricultural employers -- would give agricultural workers the chance to become legal immigrants and ensure a stable labor supply for agricultural employers. AgJOBS may be close to passing the Senate this year, but it is expected to face a stiff challenge in the House.
We fully expect the senator will bring [AgJOBS] up again, said Mr. Gabriel, as the legislation fared well on the last Senate vote, though it didn't pass. "If nothing else, the McCain/Kennedy bill raises the level of debate. This is not a problem isolated to agriculture, he said.
Agriculture policy experts are still digesting the massive McCain/Kennedy bill, but some believe there may be problems for agriculture. American Farm Bureau Federation's Austin Perez praised the bill for creating a new electronic work authorization system to replace the paper-based, fraud-prone I-9 system. This would eliminate the inadvertent hiring of illegal workers, he said.
But the group opposes legislation, including AgJOBs, that would allow these farmworkers to adjust to permanent status, because those workers usually end up leaving agriculture, he said. After workers leave the jobs, the new legislation would make it difficult for farmers to hire other workers, he said.
The Secure America & Orderly Immigration Act would require a plan to modernize border security and create a new temporary program up to six years for foreign workers.
Under the bill, undocumented immigrants in the U.S. now could register for a temporary visa. Applicants have to show work history, a clean criminal record and that they are not a security problem to be eligible for temporary visas. To qualify for permanent status, workers would need to meet future work requirements, clear background checks, pay substantial application fees as well as back taxes and meet English language requirements. Workers who lose their jobs would have 60 days to find another or return home.
Meanwhile, California Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D) said that she opposes sweeping immigration reform, such as the McCain/Kennedy bill, and plans to introduce her own measure to reform the agricultural worker program.
