Passing AgJOBS
Across the United States, there are not enough legal agricultural workers to do the pruning, picking, packing, and harvesting that keeps California and U.S. farms in business.
As a result, farms are closing, growers are planting less or switching to other crops, and the production of fresh foods and vegetables is moving abroad. Between 2007 and 2008, 1.56 million acres of farmland were shut down in the United States. American farmers have moved at least 84,155 acres of production and 22,285 jobs to Mexico to cultivate crops that used to be grown in the U.S.
California farmers alone produce half of America’s fruits, vegetables, and nuts and a quarter of the country’s dairy. However, the Federal H-2A seasonal farm worker program is not working for California. According to the U.S. Department of Labor’s most recent data, only 1.3% of California’s hundreds of thousands of farm workers came through this program.
When American farmers suffer, there is a ripple effect felt throughout the Nation. For every job lost on family farms and ranches, the U.S. loses approximately 3 jobs that are supported by having the agricultural production here in this country.
If the labor problems continue, California agriculture stands to lose between $1.7 – 3.1 billion in the next one to two years. Today, more than ever, we need a stable and legal agricultural workforce in order to protect our food supply and keep American farms at home and in business.
That’s why I introduced the AgJOBS bill. This bi-partisan legislation would provide a workable and sustainable fix to the agricultural labor problems.
The AgJOBS bill is a two-part bill. Part one would create a pilot program to identify undocumented farm workers and allow those already working in U.S. agriculture to continue to work in the United States legally, if they first pay a fine, show that they are current on their taxes, have clean criminal records, and commit to working in U.S. agriculture for the next five years. The second part would reform the H-2A program so that if local workers cannot be hired, farmers have a legal path to hire workers to harvest their crops.
The AgJOBS bill developed through 10 years of on-going negotiations between Democrats and Republicans, growers, farmers, and farmworkers alike, and has enjoyed broad support in both the House and the Senate.
AgJOBS summary
- Undocumented agriculture workers would be eligible for a “blue card” if they can demonstrate having worked in American agriculture for at least 150 work days over the previous two years.
- The blue card would entitle the worker to a temporary legal resident status. The total number of blue cards would be capped at 1.35 million over a five-year period, and the program would sunset after five years.
- The spouses and minor children of blue card workers would be eligible to apply for a blue card if they already live in the United States.
- The blue card holder would be required to work in American agriculture for an additional three years (working at least 150 work days per year) or five years (working at least 100 work days per year), before becoming eligible to apply for a green card to become a permanent legal resident.
- Before applying for a green card, participants would be required to pay a fine of $500, show that they are current on their taxes, and show that they have not been convicted of any crime that involves bodily injury, the threat of serious bodily injury, or harm to property in excess of $500.
- Finally, the H2-A Program would be modified so that it realistically responds to agriculture needs.
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