David Funderburk: “after years of Congress failing to address out-of-control immigration, the 104th Congress is set to pass much needed…”

“after years of Congress failing to address out-of-control immigration, the 104th Congress is set to pass much needed immigration reform. We all want to crack down on illegal immigration. There are two amendments to be offered today, which are very important to the agricultural community in America. The Pombo- Chambliss amendment will help reduce illegal immigration. The Goodlatte amendment only makes a bad program worse. The current guestworker program simply does not work and further tinkering will not help. We need a new program that will make sure seasonal agricultural workers do not stay in this country. The Pombo amendment assures that these legal temporary workers will only be hired when American workers cannot be found. They will only be admitted for the seasonal job for which they were hired, 25 percent of their pay will be withheld and paid to them in their home country. Nonworking family members are not eligible. Any workers that disobeys the rules will be permanently barred from the program. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on Pombo and ``no'' and Goodlatte.”