Dianne Feinstein: “The program that the Senator and I are speaking of is not just a pile of programs. This is a 5-year sunset program. But…”

“The program that the Senator and I are speaking of is not just a pile of programs. This is a 5-year sunset program. But you would see how it would work. You would then have documentation of every individual that is legally working in that program. In my State of California, growers are reporting that their harvesting crews are 10 to 20 percent of what they were previously due to two things: stepped up enforcement, a dwindling pool of workers, and the problem that ensues from both. We have an opportunity to put AgJOBS on this bill, a modified AgJOBS, reforming the H-2A program, pilot AgJOBS for 5 years. I will explain very quickly how that works. I think it is important that people understand this. The first step would require the undocumented agricultural workers apply for a ``blue card,'' if they can demonstrate that they have worked in American agriculture for at least 150 workdays over the prior of 2 years. The second step requires that a blue cardholder must work in American agriculture for an additional 5 years and work 100 days a year, or 3 years at 150 workdays a year; again, a blue card, biometric, would be documented.”