Dianne Feinstein: “I wish to comment on amendment No. 4084, which was tabled yesterday. The Chambliss amendment would modify the…”

“I wish to comment on amendment No. 4084, which was tabled yesterday. The Chambliss amendment would modify the eligibility requirements for blue card and green card status under AgJOBS, as drafted in the Comprehensive Immigration Reform Act. The Chambliss amendment would make the AgJOBS earned legalization program unworkable by denying most farm workers access to it. Just yesterday, my staff received an e-mail from the California Canning Peach Association, which produces 80 percent of the peach volume in California. They said that the Chambliss amendment would eliminate at least 90 percent of their workers from pursuing earned adjustment under the current AgJOBS language. When I look at the Chambliss amendment, I find it to be counter to the language in AgJOBS. One reason I believe the Chambliss amendment is counter to providing American farmers with a legal work force is the work day requirement he proposes. Senator Chambliss' amendment would change the definition of ``workday'' to 8 hours per day. This change would essentially gut the bill because agricultural workers simply wouldn't be able to demonstrate 8-hour workdays. Under his amendment, in order to get a blue card, agricultural workers would have to prove that they worked at least 150 work days per year during the 24-month period ending on December 31, 2005. Anything short of an 8-hour day wouldn't count. This is just unworkable and impractical.…”