- H2A
Reform Would Benefit Consumers, Producers and Workers
By
John Thompson
Idaho Farm Bureau
- Legislation aimed at
reforming the agricultural guest worker program (H2A) is a needed
step in the right direction for consumers, agriculture interests
and the workers themselves.
Sponsored by Idaho Senator Larry Craig, Senator Ted Kennedy, and
others, the Agricultural Job, Opportunity, Benefits Security Act
of 2003 (AgJOBS) provides a two-step reform that shores up the H2A
legal guest worker program. First, it provides stability for experienced
migrant workers by allowing them to stay in the U.S. legally while
they earn adjustment to legal status. And in the long-term, the
legislation overhauls and streamlines the cumbersome regulations
in H2A.
Over half of the 1.6 million agriculture workers in the U.S. are
currently here illegally according to the Department of Labor. Some
private estimates run to 85% or higher. The fact that so many farm
workers and food processing plant employees are illegal is a dirty
little secret no one in agriculture likes to talk much about. It’s
neither right nor fair that while Idaho and many other farm state
economies depend on these workers, they must hide, falsify documents
and lie in order to live here. Workers who come to the U.S. looking
for opportunities that aren’t available in Mexico and other
countries deserve the chance to earn citizenship, as long as they
are willing to abide by the law.
Producers get peace of mind in knowing that the INS isn’t
going to show up and haul off their crew on any given day. Lost
days brought on by INS raids can cost farms, packing sheds and processing
plants thousands of dollars. Those losses can cause a ripple effect
in local economies that can be difficult to recover from. The costs
associated with rounding up illegal workers and deporting them is
also a drain of tax dollars that could be better used elsewhere.
For consumers this legislation helps insure a steady supply of fruit,
vegetables, grains, meat and dairy products. Most Americans can’t
remember a time when food was hard to come by and we don’t
associate a safe, affordable, abundant food supply with our national
security. But the fact of the matter is that without that ready
supply of healthy food produced by American farmers and ranchers
we wouldn’t be able to enjoy this level of independence and
economic freedom. When you stop to consider that Americans spend
an average of 10.9% of annual income on food (the lowest in the
world) compared to 48% in India, it’s not difficult to see
a connection between domestic agriculture and self-sufficiency.
An affordable, healthy food supply allows Americans to live a better
lifestyle than many other people around the world. This legislation
is a common sense tool that will help maintain that lifestyle.
Thompson is director of information for Idaho Farm Bureau. He can
be reached at (208) 239-4292.
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