David Funderburk: “H.R. 2202 provides comprehensive reform of our immigration laws but ignores an irrefutably broken H-2A program. This…”

“H.R. 2202 provides comprehensive reform of our immigration laws but ignores an irrefutably broken H-2A program. This H-2A program has failed to provide temporary migrant farm workers when domestic workers are unavailable. The Pombo-Chambliss amendment is an essential part of illegal immigration control. It admits workers temporarily and provides guarantees they will return home and not remain. Twenty-five percent of the workers' wages are withheld until they return to their home countries. Future participation is barred if workers don't return home on time. This program has a users' fee that pays for the government administrative costs. The Goodlatte amendment tinkers with a broken H-2A program rather than fixing it, but in fact makes a bad program worse. First and foremost, we must assure an adequate work force during harvest. Without this Pombo amendment, our cucumber, sweet potato, tobacco and other farmers could be out of business, meaning a tremendous loss of food and jobs in the Second District of North Carolina--something we can't afford. Therefore, Mr. Speaker, I strongly urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on Pombo and ``no'' on Goodlatte.”