Bob Goodlatte: “The difference between the current H-2A program and the Pombo amendment is that the H-2A program requires an independent…”

“The difference between the current H-2A program and the Pombo amendment is that the H-2A program requires an independent third party to certify whether there is a need for the workers. That is the big objection to the earlier legislation that we just defeated. The difference here is that we have to have an independent party, the U.S. Government, certify that workers are needed. If they certify they do not have them, what difference does it make whether or not there is a 50-percent rule? It is unfair, if an independent party says there are not sufficient workers available, to tell a grower that they cannot use more than 50 percent labor.”