Agricultural Job Opportunity, Benefits and Security Act of 2005
(AgJOBS)

The Legislation

The Agricultural Job Opportunity, Benefits and Security Act of 2005 (S. 359 and H.R. 884) was introduced by Senators Larry Craig (R.-ID) and Edward Kennedy (D-MA), and Representatives Chris Cannon (R-UT) and Howard Berman (D-CA). The Senate and the House bills have strong bipartisan support.  In the 108th Congress, the Senate bill had 63 cosponsors, including a majority of both Democrats and Republicans, and 115 House cosponsors.

If enacted, this legislation would create an "earned adjustment" program enabling several hundred thousand H-2A guest workers and undocumented farmworkers to obtain temporary immigration status with the possibility of becoming permanent residents of the U.S. This legislation would only apply to workers who have already worked in U.S. agriculture. To obtain a ?green card,? they would be obligated to continue working in agriculture for several more years. The legislation would also modify the H-2A temporary foreign agricultural worker program, which permits employers to hire guest workers to fill seasonal agricultural jobs. AgJOBS would streamline the application process for employers, would suspend wage increases for three years and provide guest workers with new labor law enforcement mechanisms.

Why This Is Important
This legislation represents a reasonable compromise on immigration policy after nine years of conflict in Congress and several years of contentious negotiations. It is good for workers, employers and the nation. The legislation would help stabilize the agricultural labor force, providing employers with a reliable labor force and empowering farmworkers to improve the working and living conditions. The Government would know who resides in this country by giving undocumented workers the incentive to report themselves in return for the opportunity to earn immigration status.

The alternatives - other legislative proposals or simply doing nothing -- are unacceptable. AgJOBS enjoys strong support from a diverse group, including the United Farm Workers, the National Council of Agricultural Employers, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the AFLCIO, and the National Council of La Raza.

For More Information
For more information, background, tools, visit the United Farm Workers website at
www.ufw.org or contact Bruce Goldstein, at bgoldstein@nclr.org.