Gwen Graham: “Hard-working, law-abiding farmers and growers also suffer under the current system. They continue to be at legal risk…”

“Hard-working, law-abiding farmers and growers also suffer under the current system. They continue to be at legal risk for hiring undocumented workers who frequently present fraudulent documents that appear to be credible. The current agricultural guest worker program also fails to provide for unforeseen labor shortages. The bill before us provides an essential balance. It establishes a legal system that ensures basic rights and protections for workers who make significant contributions to our nation's economy. It also ensures the development of an efficient agricultural guest worker program that improves farmer and grower access to legal agricultural workers. Agricultural workers do extremely grueling work, work that puts fruits, vegetables and flowers on the tables of many American households. Dedicated, experienced farm workers deserve the dignity, empowerment and improved quality of life that come with earning legal status. Farmers that play by the rules should have a modern, streamlined program that provides easier access to legal agricultural workers. Congress has not focused on farm worker issues since the mid-1980s. Reform of our agricultural guest worker program is long overdue, and I am hopeful that we will move beyond our status quo and address this important issue this year.”