How do you prove that someone even wants the food or housing that is being deducted from their paycheck? Maybe they don't even want it.

Seven hundred fifty. For the entire United States?

I was surprised, Mr. McKeon, to find out that there is a contract agency in Texas...

Well, it is pretty bad, and I am still trying to get to the bottom of just what we need to do with 14(c) and 3(m) and tightening up on those and just making sure that, first of all, under 14(c) there has to be determination of your…

You get me some of that information I asked about, I would sure appreciate it very much.

Well, you can't imagine how embarrassing isn't the right word, embarrassment. Just how badly I feel that this has taken place in my own State.

We are going to do something about it. I just don't know exactly what. That is why we have got you here.

Thank you again for always being there, Senator Harkin.

I mean, there would obviously be a bias for the employer to get it down.

Well, again, they may be--correct me if I am wrong, they may be nonprofit, but they do make money.

Should we certify that an individual is eligible for 14(c)? We don't have that requirement.

Back wages.

I think what you are saying is a lot of these are, what, just bargained away, and they accept some kind of a settlement?

Not only do you have to look at a person for their ability to do the job, but what other factors are there involved that might preclude that person from actually doing that job?

Exactly. We need everybody involved. Then we need to have it transparent, put out there so people know.

We have a new administration that might be more adaptable to that, too.

I don't know. Do we need to put a floor under this, or do we just need to say they have to be paid the minimum wage? You know? Period. That is it.

Maybe Atalissa was kind of a wake-up call to us that we have really got to look at not just that aspect, but a broader aspect of what is happening with worker exploitation.