Saxby Chambliss: “I have said it before and I say it again today that I think the approach taken in this legislation we are considering…”

“I have said it before and I say it again today that I think the approach taken in this legislation we are considering today is contrary to the best interests of agriculture. By ignoring proper enforcement of our immigration laws for many years, the Federal Government has been sending the wrong message to farmers and ranchers across the United States: that it pays to break the law. Quite literally, it has. For those who have flouted rule of law by refusing to utilize the temporary worker program for agriculture--the H-2A program--have gained a tremendous economic advantage over their counterparts who have adhered to the laws on the books today. I will be the first to admit that some farmers have had little choice but to utilize an illegal workforce--for the H-2A program, as presently written has its limitations--for instance, farmers with jobs that are not seasonal are not able to utilize it. However, changes can be made to the H-2A program to make it more responsive to the needs of agriculture and more user-friendly for farmers. That is what the focus of immigration reform should be. Instead, the bill we are considering today is putting in statute what has only been implied previously by the Federal Government's blind eye about illegal workers: it pays to break the law. This statement is truest in the agricultural section of this bill than anywhere else.…”