Angie Craig: “the hour is late. I know those at the desk, including the Chair, would like to dim the lights and say good evening. I…”

“the hour is late. I know those at the desk, including the Chair, would like to dim the lights and say good evening. I will do that in just a few moments. We are going to have an opportunity to debate in detail what the Senator from Georgia has put before the Senate as it relates to a wage rate for agricultural workers that is embodied within the bill that is before us in comprehensive immigration reform. I must tell you that after having worked on the agriculture portion of this bill for nearly 5 years, and as a farmer and rancher, I totally agree with the Senator from Georgia, that those who were under the H-2A program and those who weren't were very different, and those who weren't were placing the farmer-producer who had adhered to the H-2A program at a true competitive disadvantage because of the adverse effect wage rate that the Senator spoke to. As we work to reform and change the character of the H-2A program, and for those Senators who aren't quite aware of that--that is the agricultural portion--we recognize that the adverse affect wage was out of step. It was skewed in large part by comparative and competitive disadvantaged margins that the Senator speaks to. The Senator has proposed moving to a prevailing wage, which, in my opinion, is in itself a minimum wage. Let me make those points. What the Senator from Georgia has failed to suggest is after an examination of the adverse effect wage rate and recognizing the problems, we changed it dramatically.…”