1.Short title, table of
contents
(a)This Act may be cited
as the Agricultural Job Opportunities, Benefits, and Security Act of
2007
or the AgJOBS Act of 2007
.
(b)The table of
contents for this Act is as follows:
Sec. 1. Short title, table of contents.
Sec. 2. Definitions.
TITLE I—PILOT PROGRAM FOR EARNED STATUS ADJUSTMENT OF
AGRICULTURAL WORKERS
Subtitle A—Blue card status
Sec. 101. Requirements for blue card status.
Sec. 102. Treatment of aliens granted blue card
status.
Sec. 103. Adjustment to permanent residence.
Sec. 104. Applications.
Sec. 105. Waiver of numerical limitations and certain grounds
for inadmissibility.
Sec. 106. Administrative and judicial review.
Sec. 107. Use of information.
Sec. 108. Regulations, effective date, authorization of
appropriations.
Subtitle B—Correction of Social Security Records
Sec. 111. Correction of Social Security records.
TITLE II—REFORM OF H–2A WORKER PROGRAM
Sec. 201. Amendment to the Immigration and Nationality Act.
TITLE III—MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS
Sec. 301. Determination and use of user fees.
Sec. 302. Regulations.
Sec. 303. Reports to Congress.
Sec. 304. Effective date.
2.In this Act:
(1)The term agricultural employment means
any service or activity that is considered to be agricultural under section
3(f) of the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 (29 U.S.C. 203(f)) or agricultural
labor under section 3121(g) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 or the
performance of agricultural labor or services described in section
101(a)(15)(H)(ii)(a) of the Immigration and
Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1101(a)(15)(H)(ii)(a)).
(2)The term blue card status means the status of
an alien who has been lawfully admitted into the United States for temporary
residence under section 101(a).
(3)The
term Department means the Department of Homeland Security.
(4)The
term employer means any person or entity, including any farm labor
contractor and any agricultural association, that employs workers in
agricultural employment.
(5)Except
as otherwise provided, the term Secretary means the Secretary of
Homeland Security.
(6)A
worker is employed on a temporary
basis when the employment is
intended not to exceed 10 months.
(7)The term work day means any day in which the
individual is employed 5.75 or more hours in agricultural employment.
<enum>I</enum><header>PILOT PROGRAM FOR
EARNED STATUS ADJUSTMENT OF AGRICULTURAL WORKERS</header>
<subtitle id="id93D41E6F9D094600B50B8AD80B8D6A4E"><enum>A</enum><header>Blue card
status</header>
<section id="ID4E71287EA0B3454B8D5D52095781FC5A"><enum>101.</enum><header>Requirements
for blue card status</header>
<subsection id="ID3A5D3928F62B4356925CCFACAFF0471F"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Requirement To
grant blue card status</header><text>Notwithstanding any other provision of
law, the Secretary shall, pursuant to the requirements of this section, grant
blue card status to an alien who qualifies under this section if the Secretary
determines that the alien—</text>
<paragraph id="ID9DE51034E1924734B2F1A783699B406E"><enum>(1)</enum><text>has performed
agricultural employment in the United States for at least 863 hours or 150 work
days during the 24-month period ending on December 31, 2006;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="ID64DA6E90075A49E99023AD898B145D05"><enum>(2)</enum><text>applied for such
status during the 18-month application period beginning on the first day of the
seventh month that begins after the date of enactment of this Act;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="ID349E87EE6F4E403D830AE2ADC4389724"><enum>(3)</enum><text>is otherwise
admissible to the United States under section 212 of the
<act-name parsable-cite="INA">Immigration and Nationality Act</act-name> (8
U.S.C. 1182), except as otherwise provided under section 105(b); and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="idD0A779DAC00D470B8E371003FD16058D"><enum>(4)</enum><text>has not been
convicted of any felony or a misdemeanor, an element of which involves bodily
injury, threat of serious bodily injury, or harm to property in excess of
$500.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="ID190B31A147074D028E2F2E63E4A966C4"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Authorized
travel</header><text>An alien who is granted blue card status is authorized to
travel outside the United States (including commuting to the United States from
a residence in a foreign country) in the same manner as an alien lawfully
admitted for permanent residence.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="IDB60272F11F304B28A17EA81E29415D8E"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Authorized
employment</header><text>The Secretary shall provide an alien who is granted
blue card status an employment authorized endorsement or other appropriate work
permit, in the same manner as an alien lawfully admitted for permanent
residence.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="IDC4BC2A33F47D4A828A21A2553B2C20C8"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Termination of
blue card status</header>
<paragraph id="ID7CA1EC1BB1D7486188056B6DEDFF4720"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>The Secretary may terminate blue card status granted to
an alien under this section only if the Secretary determines that the alien is
deportable.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="ID5466380E194E4BD480A65763098C42E3"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Grounds for
termination of blue card status</header><text>Before any alien becomes eligible
for adjustment of status under section 103, the Secretary may deny adjustment
to permanent resident status and provide for termination of the blue card
status granted such alien under paragraph (1) if—</text>
<subparagraph id="ID6B5F60A771244E479DAA891B3D77F55D"><enum>(A)</enum><text>the Secretary
finds, by a preponderance of the evidence, that the adjustment to blue card
status was the result of fraud or willful misrepresentation (as described in
section 212(a)(6)(C)(i) of the <act-name parsable-cite="INA">Immigration and
Nationality Act</act-name> (8 U.S.C. 1182(a)(6)(C)(i)); or</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="ID988CE4747C364310A40027DC5DC5C991"><enum>(B)</enum><text>the alien—</text>
<clause id="IDC728FF30E84E40B5B7E2D1A7D8B649F9"><enum>(i)</enum><text>commits an act
that makes the alien inadmissible to the United States as an immigrant, except
as provided under section 105(b);</text>
</clause><clause id="ID34D8B247E0784D9389FCA8ABC5DA8837"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>is
convicted of a felony or 3 or more misdemeanors committed in the United
States;</text>
</clause><clause id="ID8AF9302DD3954000B403CD7935C6D8A1"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>is convicted of
an offense, an element of which involves bodily injury, threat of serious
bodily injury, or harm to property in excess of $500; or</text>
</clause><clause id="id36B4F4B36C26401CB298F5E34595963F"><enum>(iv)</enum><text>fails to perform
the agricultural employment required under section 103(a)(1)(A) unless the
alien was unable to work in agricultural employment due to the extraordinary
circumstances described in section 103(a)(3).</text>
</clause></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="ID2B42E1A21B8E44E4A4D296EC9C9750FF"><enum>(e)</enum><header>Record of
employment</header>
<paragraph id="ID50F9BD23471244FFBF049E620BBD1BDD"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>Each employer of an alien granted blue card status under
this section shall annually—</text>
<subparagraph id="ID7248B320991F4265AD20F764D40A7613"><enum>(A)</enum><text>provide a written
record of employment to the alien; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="ID184A4A654AE245E5B7C77E86429680B3"><enum>(B)</enum><text>provide a copy of
such record to the Secretary.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="IDF3D4E4476DC94EE1927298BD854EA0F6"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Sunset</header><text>The
obligation under paragraph (1) shall terminate on the date that is 6 years
after the date of the enactment of this Act.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="ID8F0FBB9D402E452FBC8DCBDFF0ED9253"><enum>(f)</enum><header>Required
features of identity card</header><text>The Secretary shall provide each alien
granted blue card status, and the spouse and any child of each such alien
residing in the United States, with a card that contains—</text>
<paragraph id="IDD58FBF40E22940F2BF5B0D5D6E4295BF"><enum>(1)</enum><text>an encrypted,
machine-readable, electronic identification strip that is unique to the alien
to whom the card is issued;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="ID516FA765F418479C9A56D8C1D7D089EF"><enum>(2)</enum><text>biometric
identifiers, including fingerprints and a digital photograph; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="ID9FFD459A667A410AB6CA0E23D71ACAC5"><enum>(3)</enum><text>physical security
features designed to prevent tampering, counterfeiting, or duplication of the
card for fraudulent purposes.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="IDD5F2EF9633554E72A61C8F901A34B0E6"><enum>(g)</enum><header>Fine</header><text>An
alien granted blue card status shall pay a fine of $100 to the
Secretary.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="ID789CD7F1101C4BC3AB6B5739BC0F3ABE"><enum>(h)</enum><header>Maximum
number</header><text>The Secretary may not issue more than 1,500,000 blue cards
during the 5-year period beginning on the date of the enactment of this
Act.</text>
</subsection></section><section id="IDB47274A114D94C90AFDDED47B3712CD4"><enum>102.</enum><header>Treatment of
aliens granted blue card status</header>
<subsection id="ID85AA2CA6FDD648E89782F584283FB0AC"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>Except as otherwise provided under this section, an alien
granted blue card status shall be considered to be an alien lawfully admitted
for permanent residence for purposes of any law other than any provision of the
<act-name parsable-cite="INA">Immigration and Nationality Act</act-name> (8
U.S.C. 1101 et seq.).</text>
</subsection><subsection id="IDCB6E6613CD88418BACF86C494A4DE3B4"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Delayed
eligibility for certain federal public benefits</header><text>An alien granted
blue card status shall not be eligible, by reason of such status, for any form
of assistance or benefit described in section 403(a) of the Personal
Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 (8 U.S.C.
1613(a)) until 5 years after the date on which the alien is granted an
adjustment of status under section 103.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="IDB7D02E8D4A864500807152096175F6F9"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Terms of
employment</header>
<paragraph id="ID15926CB108B549C6BFDA198C2BC4700D"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Prohibition</header><text>No
alien granted blue card status may be terminated from employment by any
employer during the period of blue card status except for just cause.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="ID62232D9A35744C2F980040E3BA3F90A6"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Treatment of
complaints</header>
<subparagraph id="ID9C5818A27FD64A959AB4B4757E92B36A"><enum>(A)</enum><header>Establishment
of process</header><text>The Secretary shall establish a process for the
receipt, initial review, and disposition of complaints by aliens granted blue
card status who allege that they have been terminated without just cause. No
proceeding shall be conducted under this paragraph with respect to a
termination unless the Secretary determines that the complaint was filed not
later than 6 months after the date of the termination.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="IDEE8BC8C603B548868F9F5DBFB19AD144"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Initiation of
arbitration</header><text>If the Secretary finds that an alien has filed a
complaint in accordance with subparagraph (A) and there is reasonable cause to
believe that the alien was terminated from employment without just cause, the
Secretary shall initiate binding arbitration proceedings by requesting the
Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service to appoint a mutually agreeable
arbitrator from the roster of arbitrators maintained by such Service for the
geographical area in which the employer is located. The procedures and rules of
such Service shall be applicable to the selection of such arbitrator and to
such arbitration proceedings. The Secretary shall pay the fee and expenses of
the arbitrator, subject to the availability of appropriations for such
purpose.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="ID05F5114992A04B8C8C9C7288EDEBD309"><enum>(C)</enum><header>Arbitration
proceedings</header><text>The arbitrator shall conduct the proceeding under
this paragraph in accordance with the policies and procedures promulgated by
the American Arbitration Association applicable to private arbitration of
employment disputes. The arbitrator shall make findings respecting whether the
termination was for just cause. The arbitrator may not find that the
termination was for just cause unless the employer so demonstrates by a
preponderance of the evidence. If the arbitrator finds that the termination was
not for just cause, the arbitrator shall make a specific finding of the number
of days or hours of work lost by the employee as a result of the termination.
The arbitrator shall have no authority to order any other remedy, including
reinstatement, back pay, or front pay to the affected employee. Not later than
30 days after the date of the conclusion of the arbitration proceeding, the
arbitrator shall transmit the findings in the form of a written opinion to the
parties to the arbitration and the Secretary. Such findings shall be final and
conclusive, and no official or court of the United States shall have the power
or jurisdiction to review any such findings.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="IDCC611C20780F4DB5A06360B244ECCC4F"><enum>(D)</enum><header>Effect of
arbitration findings</header><text>If the Secretary receives a finding of an
arbitrator that an employer has terminated the employment of an alien who is
granted blue card status without just cause, the Secretary shall credit the
alien for the number of days or hours of work not performed during such period
of termination for the purpose of determining if the alien meets the qualifying
employment requirement of section 103(a).</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="ID2CC3CD4FCE4B4149A119622A677C6447"><enum>(E)</enum><header>Treatment of
attorney’s fees</header><text>Each party to an arbitration under this paragraph
shall bear the cost of their own attorney’s fees for the arbitration.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="ID45A82CC400F44855ACD750B86D48AC2B"><enum>(F)</enum><header>Nonexclusive
remedy</header><text>The complaint process provided for in this paragraph is in
addition to any other rights an employee may have in accordance with applicable
law.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="IDB0BAB94211F04DF0A501AA555ADE588E"><enum>(G)</enum><header>Effect on other
actions or proceedings</header><text>Any finding of fact or law, judgment,
conclusion, or final order made by an arbitrator in the proceeding before the
Secretary shall not be conclusive or binding in any separate or subsequent
action or proceeding between the employee and the employee’s current or prior
employer brought before an arbitrator, administrative agency, court, or judge
of any State or the United States, regardless of whether the prior action was
between the same or related parties or involved the same facts, except that the
arbitrator’s specific finding of the number of days or hours of work lost by
the employee as a result of the employment termination may be referred to the
Secretary pursuant to subparagraph (D).</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="IDF20F00889EF74A69AB1C0B10D9F5F054"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Civil
penalties</header>
<subparagraph id="ID43E7FF29033646A4BEA00AFB835AD244"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>If the Secretary finds, after notice and opportunity for
a hearing, that an employer of an alien granted blue card status has failed to
provide the record of employment required under section 101(e) or has provided
a false statement of material fact in such a record, the employer shall be
subject to a civil money penalty in an amount not to exceed $1,000 per
violation.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="ID94B8C803050C4261AD9E4168AE584174"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Limitation</header><text>The
penalty applicable under subparagraph (A) for failure to provide records shall
not apply unless the alien has provided the employer with evidence of
employment authorization granted under this section.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph></subsection></section><section id="IDA116F3AADB3341D9B5582F0BF8344096"><enum>103.</enum><header>Adjustment to
permanent residence</header>
<subsection id="ID722F1ED6B61348759063B625EFDA2E60"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>Except as provided in subsection (b), the Secretary shall
adjust the status of an alien granted blue card status to that of an alien
lawfully admitted for permanent residence if the Secretary determines that the
following requirements are satisfied:</text>
<paragraph id="id0F4B5C3DDD8648248431AC7066EE7C44"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Qualifying
employment</header>
<subparagraph id="id72AB415CF3DC48A0BA846F460F5F562D"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>Subject to subparagraph (B), the alien has performed at
least—</text>
<clause id="id707B3EB9B1524436B91C574A72A7EF67"><enum>(i)</enum><text>5
years of agricultural employment in the United States for at least 100 work
days per year, during the 5-year period beginning on the date of the enactment
of this Act; or</text>
</clause><clause id="idB119D63F877E42DC91C05540847C8D61"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>3
years of agricultural employment in the United States for at least 150 work
days per year, during the 3-year period beginning on the date of the enactment
of this Act.</text>
</clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idCCD1E9F6A7804C099A20E7FF35DE59C8"><enum>(B)</enum><header>4-year period
of employment</header><text>An alien shall be considered to meet the
requirements of subparagraph (A) if the alien has performed 4 years of
agricultural employment in the United States for at least 150 work days during
3 years of those 4 years and at least 100 work days during the remaining year,
during the 4-year period beginning on the date of the enactment of this
Act.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="ID4C38CDF24C994D8E96332071AA047538"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Proof</header><text>An
alien may demonstrate compliance with the requirement under paragraph (1) by
submitting—</text>
<subparagraph id="ID0C2B313E77F5419989771A40C249C8C4"><enum>(A)</enum><text>the record of
employment described in section 101(e); or</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="IDF1080B5AA6E24772B26DFA35DB36D299"><enum>(B)</enum><text>such
documentation as may be submitted under section 104(c).</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="ID25B5C1BF473A4D839EE157ACB567EF41"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Extraordinary
circumstances</header><text>In determining whether an alien has met the
requirement of paragraph (1)(A), the Secretary may credit the alien with not
more than 12 additional months to meet the requirement of that subparagraph if
the alien was unable to work in agricultural employment due to—</text>
<subparagraph id="ID9ABB3DCD0C05449ABBECEACFC49D68D2"><enum>(A)</enum><text>pregnancy,
injury, or disease, if the alien can establish such pregnancy, disabling
injury, or disease through medical records;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="IDBCEE0F8B1C1E4A708D0EAF7463211718"><enum>(B)</enum><text>illness, disease,
or other special needs of a minor child, if the alien can establish such
illness, disease, or special needs through medical records; or</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="ID6715C6E57D7D4B9E849BBD5BEAD515C2"><enum>(C)</enum><text>severe weather
conditions that prevented the alien from engaging in agricultural employment
for a significant period of time.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="ID8B59D79ADD1B4CB98BB992C9C6A7850A"><enum>(4)</enum><header>Application
period</header><text>The alien applies for adjustment of status not later than
7 years after the date of the enactment of this Act.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="ID0554D333BB184692956785802C9DA297"><enum>(5)</enum><header>Fine</header><text>The
alien pays a fine of $400 to the Secretary.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="ID704EF0FAE3544F0B8B591152E05612F5"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Grounds for
denial of adjustment of status</header><text>The Secretary may deny an alien
granted blue card status an adjustment of status under this section and provide
for termination of such blue card status if—</text>
<paragraph id="IDCF5B3C7229D645BD881FFDE108E38391"><enum>(1)</enum><text>the Secretary
finds by a preponderance of the evidence that the adjustment to blue card
status was the result of fraud or willful misrepresentation, as described in
section 212(a)(6)(C)(i) of the <act-name parsable-cite="INA">Immigration and
Nationality Act</act-name> (8 U.S.C. 1182(a)(6)(C)(i)); or</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="ID5D2F5BB2381C479CAD90BC1EB254EEFA"><enum>(2)</enum><text>the alien—</text>
<subparagraph id="ID720AD6F6A92A476E83BD2FBFF694EF27"><enum>(A)</enum><text>commits an act
that makes the alien inadmissible to the United States under section 212 of the
<act-name parsable-cite="INA">Immigration and Nationality Act</act-name> (8
U.S.C. 1182), except as provided under section 105(b);</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="ID5B432C35284C428284BC8805CF96A1E3"><enum>(B)</enum><text>is convicted of a
felony or 3 or more misdemeanors committed in the United States; or</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="ID8CE9DC21817A4D3FBEC19374AAC83984"><enum>(C)</enum><text>is convicted of
an offense, an element of which involves bodily injury, threat of serious
bodily injury, or harm to property in excess of $500.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="ID559F296F3EDF41459DEC5F2C8C48AA22"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Grounds for
removal</header><text>Any alien granted blue card status who does not apply for
adjustment of status under this section before the expiration of the
application period described in subsection (a)(4) or who fails to meet the
other requirements of subsection (a) by the end of the application period, is
deportable and may be removed under section 240 of the
<act-name parsable-cite="INA">Immigration and Nationality Act</act-name> (8
U.S.C. 1229a).</text>
</subsection><subsection id="ID73A0670A96CA4806A5BE8D0B7719E138"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Payment of
taxes</header>
<paragraph id="ID8A8EE16591F14F4A9342B6F896318EAE"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>Not later than the date on which an alien’s status is
adjusted under this section, the alien shall establish that the alien does not
owe any applicable Federal tax liability by establishing that—</text>
<subparagraph id="ID60E72EB3A090477798174DC6EA4A5706"><enum>(A)</enum><text>no such tax
liability exists;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="ID8353D2E5994F4BB78FA1A2A6308A0041"><enum>(B)</enum><text>all such
outstanding tax liabilities have been paid; or</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="ID22BCA22C6869463DA5E5176719FB1261"><enum>(C)</enum><text>the alien has
entered into an agreement for payment of all outstanding liabilities with the
Internal Revenue Service.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="ID06BE66EE5D0B44DF8E2F939C62AE0D43"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Applicable
federal tax liability</header><text>In paragraph (1) the term <term>applicable
Federal tax liability</term> means liability for Federal taxes, including
penalties and interest, owed for any year during the period of employment
required under subsection (a)(1) for which the statutory period for assessment
of any deficiency for such taxes has not expired.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="IDBCD7F7416CC849F1AC3140054BB0FC89"><enum>(3)</enum><header>IRS
cooperation</header><text>The Secretary of the Treasury shall establish rules
and procedures under which the Commissioner of Internal Revenue shall provide
documentation to an alien upon request to establish the payment of all taxes
required by this subsection.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="IDD1DCADBFD44D40A9AF01D1080966EFF2"><enum>(e)</enum><header>Spouses and
minor children</header>
<paragraph id="ID9C60DE05FDFC4503BD4B6B164AF2E8F3"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Secretary
shall confer the status of lawful permanent resident on the spouse and minor
child of an alien granted any adjustment of status under subsection (a),
including any individual who was a minor child on the date such alien was
granted blue card status, if the spouse or minor child applies for such status,
or if the principal alien includes the spouse or minor child in an application
for adjustment of status to that of a lawful permanent resident.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="IDA9908D9EE27847409B80B009907DF54D"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Treatment of
spouses and minor children</header>
<subparagraph id="IDB5926A9FE84549A28D3AA16288A3F6B3"><enum>(A)</enum><header>Granting of
status and removal</header><text>The Secretary may grant derivative status to
the alien spouse and any minor child residing in the United States of an alien
granted blue card status and shall not remove such derivative spouse or child
during the period that the alien granted blue card status maintains such
status, except as provided in paragraph (3). A grant of derivative status to
such a spouse or child under this subparagraph shall not decrease the number of
aliens who may receive blue card status under subsection (h) of section
101.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="ID9A848FBB01444A7E9593A463168B0FA4"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Travel</header><text>The
derivative spouse and any minor child of an alien granted blue card status may
travel outside the United States in the same manner as an alien lawfully
admitted for permanent residence.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="ID91DA35618324463FAD17FA613EC1B8F8"><enum>(C)</enum><header>Employment</header><text>The
derivative spouse of an alien granted blue card status may apply to the
Secretary for a work permit to authorize such spouse to engage in any lawful
employment in the United States while such alien maintains blue card
status.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="ID821B66FE90A843A194FE199511AC5233"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Grounds for
denial of adjustment of status and removal</header><text>The Secretary may deny
an alien spouse or child adjustment of status under paragraph (1) and may
remove such spouse or child under section 240 of the
<act-name parsable-cite="INA">Immigration and Nationality Act</act-name> (8
U.S.C. 1229a) if the spouse or child—</text>
<subparagraph id="IDD68F0F2A1DB849F18E61AE29F65E3835"><enum>(A)</enum><text>commits an act
that makes the alien spouse or child inadmissible to the United States under
section 212 of such Act (8 U.S.C. 1182), except as provided under section
105(b);</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="IDDEB9D672EB0D40DFB2C8116C8FD0964E"><enum>(B)</enum><text>is convicted of a
felony or 3 or more misdemeanors committed in the United States; or</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="ID7E1F1720C09D4BC19FB3CBE56DB47299"><enum>(C)</enum><text>is convicted of
an offense, an element of which involves bodily injury, threat of serious
bodily injury, or harm to property in excess of $500.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph></subsection></section><section id="IDC5A55F6FDDC8456B8BB8EFF7836F9C99"><enum>104.</enum><header>Applications</header>
<subsection id="ID22D8DF77B9CB42C2BE00F51440A07E38"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Submission</header><text>The
Secretary shall provide that—</text>
<paragraph id="ID52349BE218C141F5B3C932CD6FA0A77F"><enum>(1)</enum><text>applications for
blue card status under section 101 may be submitted—</text>
<subparagraph id="IDA18313EFB96C458D99B91B6E17FEBFC1"><enum>(A)</enum><text>to the Secretary
if the applicant is represented by an attorney or a nonprofit religious,
charitable, social service, or similar organization recognized by the Board of
Immigration Appeals under section 292.2 of title 8, Code of Federal
Regulations; or</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="ID0AC09475F8544DC5B607F41606F3F039"><enum>(B)</enum><text>to a qualified
designated entity if the applicant consents to the forwarding of the
application to the Secretary; and</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="IDBDB54E98F85F4D4985C24B6D801A8905"><enum>(2)</enum><text>applications for
adjustment of status under section 103 shall be filed directly with the
Secretary.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="IDFEA7C195A5294F5DBB003E4035D0EA19"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Qualified
designated entity defined</header><text>In this section, the term
<quote>qualified designated entity</quote> means—</text>
<paragraph id="IDCD8FDC4AB0B44DCFA9FCE89A6B8F895F"><enum>(1)</enum><text>a qualified farm
labor organization or an association of employers designated by the Secretary;
or</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="ID52E26B6631D941DFA4C2BD9995059DE3"><enum>(2)</enum><text>any such other
person designated by the Secretary if that Secretary determines such person is
qualified and has substantial experience, demonstrated competence, and has a
history of long-term involvement in the preparation and submission of
applications for adjustment of status under section 209, 210, or 245 of the
<act-name parsable-cite="INA">Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1159,
1160, and 1255)</act-name>, the Act entitled <quote>An Act to adjust the status
of Cuban refugees to that of lawful permanent residents of the United States,
and for other purposes</quote>, approved November 2, 1966 (Public Law 89–732; 8
U.S.C. 1255 note), Public Law 95–145 (8 U.S.C. 1255 note), or the Immigration
Reform and Control Act of 1986 (Public Law 99–603; 100 Stat. 3359) or any
amendment made by that Act.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="IDE07D4DCE391D4C3FADB159A8053B355E"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Proof of
eligibility</header>
<paragraph id="ID0CDD1C2A866A4888B9FC9CD23C8662C5"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>An alien may establish that the alien meets the
requirement of section 101(a)(1) or 103(a)(1) through government employment
records or records supplied by employers or collective bargaining
organizations, and other reliable documentation as the alien may provide. The
Secretary shall establish special procedures to properly credit work in cases
in which an alien was employed under an assumed name.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="ID91EF82C998074F24B55D556B3495C9B8"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Documentation
of work history</header>
<subparagraph id="ID8775EB957BE0477BBF0EE87CFFF56FDD"><enum>(A)</enum><header>Burden of
proof</header><text>An alien applying for status under section 101(a) or 103(a)
has the burden of proving by a preponderance of the evidence that the alien has
worked the requisite number of hours or days required under section 101(a)(1)
or 103(a)(1), as applicable.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="ID685674A78D1C409087ED501F6D57333E"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Timely
production of records</header><text>If an employer or farm labor contractor
employing such an alien has kept proper and adequate records respecting such
employment, the alien’s burden of proof under subparagraph (A) may be met by
securing timely production of those records under regulations to be promulgated
by the Secretary.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="IDA98473D97EFC4E32A7111B19123F6257"><enum>(C)</enum><header>Sufficient
evidence</header><text>An alien may meet the burden of proof under subparagraph
(A) to establish that the alien has performed the days or hours of work
required by section 101(a)(1) or 103(a)(1) by producing sufficient evidence to
show the extent of that employment as a matter of just and reasonable
inference.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="IDD79EF52E71194D72A3AEA4984E12E2D6"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Applications
submitted to qualified designated entities</header>
<paragraph id="id9C72B52A96464456A186EFF835F7623C"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Requirements</header><text>Each
qualified designated entity shall agree—</text>
<subparagraph id="idAC47568D57B942D78376DFA41D749257"><enum>(A)</enum><text>to forward to the
Secretary an application submitted to that entity pursuant to subsection
(a)(1)(B) if the applicant has consented to such forwarding;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id9F58996AA08A455190B06563E265951A"><enum>(B)</enum><text>not to forward to
the Secretary any such application if the applicant has not consented to such
forwarding; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id00FC95DA341949E190B3781D32C57DFB"><enum>(C)</enum><text>to assist an
alien in obtaining documentation of the alien's work history, if the alien
requests such assistance.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id27C6E92C81E94459A67FECF5D1E6FE35"><enum>(2)</enum><header>No authority to
make determinations</header><text>No qualified designated entity may make a
determination required by this subtitle to be made by the Secretary.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="IDEE7B53F98DBA415C80A5CF804610B155"><enum>(e)</enum><header>Limitation on
access to information</header><text>Files and records collected or compiled by
a qualified designated entity for the purposes of this section are confidential
and the Secretary shall not have access to such a file or record relating to an
alien without the consent of the alien, except as allowed by a court order
issued pursuant to subsection (f).</text>
</subsection><subsection id="ID4C77B088816443C1B105A29C24B571D6"><enum>(f)</enum><header>Confidentiality
of information</header>
<paragraph id="IDC77C8A1379A047928186526991B7CF5A"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>Except as otherwise provided in this section, the
Secretary or any other official or employee of the Department or a bureau or
agency of the Department is prohibited from—</text>
<subparagraph id="ID70837B77138D47D59C3C4806B69B6CBF"><enum>(A)</enum><text>using information
furnished by the applicant pursuant to an application filed under this title,
the information provided by an applicant to a qualified designated entity, or
any information provided by an employer or former employer for any purpose
other than to make a determination on the application or for imposing the
penalties described in subsection (g);</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="ID1C057622E9F04E61A118D3CF48E55672"><enum>(B)</enum><text>making any
publication in which the information furnished by any particular individual can
be identified; or</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="ID1F46975F6E5F407583772BF819C72AB8"><enum>(C)</enum><text>permitting a
person other than a sworn officer or employee of the Department or a bureau or
agency of the Department or, with respect to applications filed with a
qualified designated entity, that qualified designated entity, to examine
individual applications.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="IDEEEB5B386FD940BEB611D9B4126F78C7"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Required
disclosures</header><text>The Secretary shall provide the information furnished
under this title or any other information derived from such furnished
information to—</text>
<subparagraph id="IDD0217346412D4F2D9EC48D50557E8B43"><enum>(A)</enum><text>a duly recognized
law enforcement entity in connection with a criminal investigation or
prosecution, if such information is requested in writing by such entity;
or</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="IDC5E5F3151345459592F8D2DAD0324F71"><enum>(B)</enum><text>an official
coroner, for purposes of affirmatively identifying a deceased individual,
whether or not the death of such individual resulted from a crime.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="ID42A9659118A14468BDD132466EDDECF0"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Construction</header>
<subparagraph id="IDEA9615FCB6474CC9960CE6D7F1ADAC4C"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>Nothing in this subsection shall be construed to limit
the use, or release, for immigration enforcement purposes or law enforcement
purposes, of information contained in files or records of the Department
pertaining to an application filed under this section, other than information
furnished by an applicant pursuant to the application, or any other information
derived from the application, that is not available from any other
source.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="IDC75B56CF261C4891AEAA7B2D1A46CA60"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Criminal
convictions</header><text>Notwithstanding any other provision of this
subsection, information concerning whether the alien applying for blue card
status under section 101 or an adjustment of status under section 103 has been
convicted of a crime at any time may be used or released for immigration
enforcement or law enforcement purposes.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="IDD7BA4BFF0BED471B8255A6BC6671F1B0"><enum>(4)</enum><header>Crime</header><text>Any
person who knowingly uses, publishes, or permits information to be examined in
violation of this subsection shall be subject to a fine in an amount not to
exceed $10,000.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="IDF18C16ABAAB54178BB6D27C5D85AC935"><enum>(g)</enum><header>Penalties for
false statements in applications</header>
<paragraph id="ID8C6AB620A248497491AC230151C1B5C0"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Criminal
penalty</header><text>Any person who—</text>
<subparagraph id="ID369591D913D041409824C249B7E649EB"><enum>(A)</enum><text>files an
application for blue card status under section 101 or an adjustment of status
under section 103 and knowingly and willfully falsifies, conceals, or covers up
a material fact or makes any false, fictitious, or fraudulent statements or
representations, or makes or uses any false writing or document knowing the
same to contain any false, fictitious, or fraudulent statement or entry;
or</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="ID3A7723BAADB84626BF52EAF5CF92A657"><enum>(B)</enum><text>creates or
supplies a false writing or document for use in making such an
application,</text>
<continuation-text continuation-text-level="subparagraph">shall be
fined in accordance with title 18, United States Code, imprisoned not more than
5 years, or both.</continuation-text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="ID4D065C1E62C64B9A9B1D995D3E3B3E55"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Inadmissibility</header><text>An
alien who is convicted of a crime under paragraph (1) shall be considered to be
inadmissible to the United States on the ground described in section
212(a)(6)(C)(i) of the <act-name parsable-cite="INA">Immigration and
Nationality Act</act-name> (8 U.S.C. 1182(a)(6)(C)(i)).</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="ID59997A7C209D4E7A9BB062824FCC2707"><enum>(h)</enum><header>Eligibility for
legal services</header><text>Section 504(a)(11) of Public Law 104–134 (110
Stat. 1321–53 et seq.) shall not be construed to prevent a recipient of funds
under the Legal Services Corporation Act (42 U.S.C. 2996 et seq.) from
providing legal assistance directly related to an application for blue card
status under section 101 or an adjustment of status under section 103.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="IDFA83A6900B3A46AFAB2C660899868F41"><enum>(i)</enum><header>Application
fees</header>
<paragraph id="ID1691F5C7CC284DB58E5730E85920A35E"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Fee
schedule</header><text>The Secretary shall provide for a schedule of fees
that—</text>
<subparagraph id="ID6A6031C6C97A4A93AE2A864C132BF1CF"><enum>(A)</enum><text>shall be charged
for the filing of an application for blue card status under section 101 or for
an adjustment of status under section 103; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="ID5923B780F8104C8BBBE67B9069BD882A"><enum>(B)</enum><text>may be charged by
qualified designated entities to help defray the costs of services provided to
such applicants.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="IDF988F775270D4F49AF4F8C649C2DB0A3"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Prohibition on
excess fees by qualified designated entities</header><text>A qualified
designated entity may not charge any fee in excess of, or in addition to, the
fees authorized under paragraph (1)(B) for services provided to
applicants.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="ID89B9C47E8982445E87886D02C583A678"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Disposition of
fees</header>
<subparagraph id="ID9E81BB4B2EE046FDBE5C0F1716B6B0F2"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>There is established in the general fund of the Treasury
a separate account, which shall be known as the <quote>Agricultural Worker
Immigration Status Adjustment Account</quote>. Notwithstanding any other
provision of law, there shall be deposited as offsetting receipts into the
account all fees collected under paragraph (1)(A).</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="IDF69DAEBDDE4D479CA3E7C6FCA3C52FC9"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Use of fees for
application processing</header><text>Amounts deposited in the
<quote>Agricultural Worker Immigration Status Adjustment Account</quote> shall
remain available to the Secretary until expended for processing applications
for blue card status under section 101 or an adjustment of status under section
103.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph></subsection></section><section id="ID9A1BE82340864D7FA946E1060C1D3A32"><enum>105.</enum><header>Waiver of
numerical limitations and certain grounds for inadmissibility</header>
<subsection id="IDE4BC63B92BFB4F079272D1BED76C10C7"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Numerical
limitations do not apply</header><text>The numerical limitations of sections
201 and 202 of the <act-name parsable-cite="INA">Immigration and Nationality
Act</act-name> (8 U.S.C. 1151 and 1152) shall not apply to the adjustment of
aliens to lawful permanent resident status under section 103.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="ID8CBB7946A54143E6BB74D195C5ACF6CD"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Waiver of
certain grounds of inadmissibility</header><text>In the determination of an
alien’s eligibility for status under section 101(a) or an alien’s eligibility
for adjustment of status under section 103(b)(2)(A) the following rules shall
apply:</text>
<paragraph id="IDE2F31B40D75F445491F3F1AF0BD031FB"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Grounds of
exclusion not applicable</header><text>The provisions of paragraphs (5),
(6)(A), (7), and (9) of section 212(a) of the <act-name parsable-cite="INA">Immigration and Nationality Act</act-name> (8 U.S.C.
1182(a)) shall not apply.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="ID9DDF4092E92B4ADABA4EB42E646C57B6"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Waiver of other
grounds</header>
<subparagraph id="ID4AAAA2B24A0044B4B9DEA136D1C22273"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>Except as provided in subparagraph (B), the Secretary may
waive any other provision of such section 212(a) in the case of individual
aliens for humanitarian purposes, to ensure family unity, or if otherwise in
the public interest.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="IDC88F72033EE44C7A8716F8004A6331D9"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Grounds that
may not be waived</header><text>Paragraphs (2)(A), (2)(B), (2)(C), (3), and (4)
of such section 212(a) may not be waived by the Secretary under subparagraph
(A).</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="IDF5A4824241B24C47B2FDA69630E61D82"><enum>(C)</enum><header>Construction</header><text>Nothing
in this paragraph shall be construed as affecting the authority of the
Secretary other than under this subparagraph to waive provisions of such
section 212(a).</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="ID0B14D1379ACE4DEEAF623FD37ADD75E7"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Special rule
for determination of public charge</header><text>An alien is not ineligible for
blue card status under section 101 or an adjustment of status under section 103
by reason of a ground of inadmissibility under section 212(a)(4) of the
<act-name parsable-cite="INA">Immigration and Nationality Act</act-name> (8
U.S.C. 1182(a)(4)) if the alien demonstrates a history of employment in the
United States evidencing self-support without reliance on public cash
assistance.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="ID84FDA43BA8BC4305A1C1EB82CACEC0CF"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Temporary stay
of removal and work authorization for certain applicants</header>
<paragraph id="ID270311F8F415468999FC57B7616C4D38"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Before
application period</header><text>Effective on the date of enactment of this
Act, the Secretary shall provide that, in the case of an alien who is
apprehended before the beginning of the application period described in section
101(a)(2) and who can establish a nonfrivolous case of eligibility for blue
card status (but for the fact that the alien may not apply for such status
until the beginning of such period), until the alien has had the opportunity
during the first 30 days of the application period to complete the filing of an
application for blue card status, the alien—</text>
<subparagraph id="IDB3F953510F644F35AD277E185A12EB1F"><enum>(A)</enum><text>may not be
removed; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="ID8616E8DE99B84C06BA9406E2590E7B69"><enum>(B)</enum><text>shall be granted
authorization to engage in employment in the United States and be provided an
employment authorized endorsement or other appropriate work permit for such
purpose.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="ID841EFD61F53544C6A58794B30E02C958"><enum>(2)</enum><header>During
application period</header><text>The Secretary shall provide that, in the case
of an alien who presents a nonfrivolous application for blue card status during
the application period described in section 101(a)(2), including an alien who
files such an application within 30 days of the alien’s apprehension, and until
a final determination on the application has been made in accordance with this
section, the alien—</text>
<subparagraph id="ID151010D1733C4A6182E9698857007B90"><enum>(A)</enum><text>may not be
removed; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="ID97BE967BCA4F43C8AF6928502300F7E1"><enum>(B)</enum><text>shall be granted
authorization to engage in employment in the United States and be provided an
employment authorized endorsement or other appropriate work permit for such
purpose.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph></subsection></section><section id="ID019B847E7116486EA25D33325A572CED"><enum>106.</enum><header>Administrative
and judicial review</header>
<subsection id="ID975244CA5C3D4097836EE640AF42A7DD"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>There shall be no administrative or judicial review of a
determination respecting an application for blue card status under section 101
or adjustment of status under section 103 except in accordance with this
section.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="ID4F622DB25ABC44AEAF526BCFBCD25EDD"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Administrative
review</header>
<paragraph id="ID9A18A015956F4BC497A8C696D7976F76"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Single level of
administrative appellate review</header><text>The Secretary shall establish an
appellate authority to provide for a single level of administrative appellate
review of such a determination.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="ID39D3CA6EACBB4AD4AFA4BA66950EECE8"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Standard for
review</header><text>Such administrative appellate review shall be based solely
upon the administrative record established at the time of the determination on
the application and upon such additional or newly discovered evidence as may
not have been available at the time of the determination.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="ID7C5B7F97E80A44918D7764F7DE249E2F"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Judicial
review</header>
<paragraph id="ID9CD0F8AAC6D7407784A37189B439295D"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Limitation to
review of removal</header><text>There shall be judicial review of such a
determination only in the judicial review of an order of removal under section
242 of the <act-name parsable-cite="INA">Immigration and Nationality
Act</act-name> (8 U.S.C. 1252).</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="IDE224A562A1754D5BBD1FBA766027D1BE"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Standard for
judicial review</header><text>Such judicial review shall be based solely upon
the administrative record established at the time of the review by the
appellate authority and the findings of fact and determinations contained in
such record shall be conclusive unless the applicant can establish abuse of
discretion or that the findings are directly contrary to clear and convincing
facts contained in the record considered as a whole.</text>
</paragraph></subsection></section><section id="ID2DD2FBB909D84510822AF8A282B0325A"><enum>107.</enum><header>Use of
information</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Beginning not
later than the first day of the application period described in section
101(a)(2), the Secretary, in cooperation with qualified designated entities (as
that term is defined in section 104(b)), shall broadly disseminate information
respecting the benefits that aliens may receive under this subtitle and the
requirements that an alien is required to meet to receive such benefits.</text>
</section><section id="ID21042AEF5D42462FB0A4552609AB2960"><enum>108.</enum><header>Regulations,
effective date, authorization of appropriations</header>
<subsection id="id60BFD4B1F7274F60895C57C75A0F1D77"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Regulations</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Secretary shall issue regulations to
implement this subtitle not later than the first day of the seventh month that
begins after the date of enactment of this Act.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="IDA041A11C0AA744E5AF356297BDB88645"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Effective
date</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">This subtitle shall take
effect on the date that regulations required by subsection (a) are issued,
regardless of whether such regulations are issued on an interim basis or on any
other basis.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="ID395A16682AAF4F55B878866F12DE07BE"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Authorization
of appropriations</header><text>There are authorized to be appropriated to the
Secretary such sums as may be necessary to implement this subtitle, including
any sums needed for costs associated with the initiation of such
implementation, for fiscal years 2007 and 2008.</text>
</subsection></section></subtitle><subtitle id="idFFE5AD59DAF442829BB24B834D2F305F"><enum>B</enum><header>Correction of
Social Security Records</header>
<section id="ID0CA6C49BC6474EF4B7BB537CF8DAA20E"><enum>111.</enum><header>Correction of
Social Security records</header>
<subsection id="IDB021C2763EFA4E5CADD78C2FA5694F14"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In
General</header><text>Section 208(e)(1) of the <act-name parsable-cite="SSA">Social Security Act</act-name> (42 U.S.C. 408(e)(1)) is
amended—</text>
<paragraph id="IDAAAB11AACC914C16959C7EBBB4F9968A"><enum>(1)</enum><text>in subparagraph
(B)(ii), by striking <quote>or</quote> at the end;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="ID7970B0144AB241EEB2FE8E6C3F52D49C"><enum>(2)</enum><text>in subparagraph
(C), by inserting <quote>or</quote> at the end;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="ID7309DADC70524C2DAD55CB1453C1AD71"><enum>(3)</enum><text>by inserting
after subparagraph (C) the following:</text>
<quoted-block id="ID483343FA94B24B69B6A8519DF19A9D62" style="OLC">
<subparagraph id="IDCDDCC37F3D714483B35E259757069E5F" indent="up1"><enum>(D)</enum><text>who is granted blue card status under
the Agricultural Job Opportunity, Benefits, and Security Act of
2007,</text>
</subparagraph><after-quoted-block>;
and</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</paragraph><paragraph id="ID9C7B89B470804B1DB55E05E99E119B5D"><enum>(4)</enum><text>by striking
<quote>1990.</quote> and inserting <quote>1990, or in the case of an alien
described in subparagraph (D), if such conduct is alleged to have occurred
before the date on which the alien was granted blue card
status.</quote>.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="ID260789054E794D7F9E332686C2A1DC62"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Effective
Date</header><text>The amendments made by subsection (a) shall take effect on
the first day of the seventh month that begins after the date of the enactment
of this Act.</text>
</subsection></section></subtitle><enum>II</enum><header>REFORM OF H–2A
WORKER PROGRAM</header>
<section id="IDF3B4ECFBE9F44CE8834E3B1409F8D8D9"><enum>201.</enum><header>Amendment to
the <act-name parsable-cite="INA">Immigration and Nationality
Act</act-name></header>
<subsection id="ID49137307A61C4686A54D3EB8D7512CFB"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In
General</header><text>Title II of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C.
1151 et seq.) is amended by striking section 218 and inserting the
following:</text>
<quoted-block id="ID85678CF2B09F4E68ADF0A23A8CFC38C9" style="OLC">
<section id="ID0A100C18F7D04D1C80E64419A04F16EF"><enum>218.</enum><header>H–2a employer
applications</header>
<subsection id="IDE6AB764A45064AD9A2AF490DBC749750"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Applications to
the Secretary of Labor</header>
<paragraph id="ID52109D183AAE4F3D9C53ED4B2A0CCC37"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>No alien may be admitted to the United States as an H–2A
worker, or otherwise provided status as an H–2A worker, unless the employer has
filed with the Secretary of Labor an application containing—</text>
<subparagraph id="IDC3CEC6745A7743AC81DF09548C8357CD"><enum>(A)</enum><text>the assurances
described in subsection (b);</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="ID1EE7B93FAFAD4404A7B59B9BB6442BA3"><enum>(B)</enum><text>a description of
the nature and location of the work to be performed;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="IDCA49EEB1A2D34D4AB12D1E41C0ADD64F"><enum>(C)</enum><text>the anticipated
period (expected beginning and ending dates) for which the workers will be
needed; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="ID79D19445189E46CF8547ACA17EC2420B"><enum>(D)</enum><text>the number of job
opportunities in which the employer seeks to employ the workers.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="ID1D57F37893324FA68DA7FBCB5A35DB41"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Accompanied by
job offer</header><text>Each application filed under paragraph (1) shall be
accompanied by a copy of the job offer describing the wages and other terms and
conditions of employment and the bona fide occupational qualifications that
shall be possessed by a worker to be employed in the job opportunity in
question.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="ID7D79519A17EC4EABA631AD8259FC7F7F"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Assurances for
Inclusion in Applications</header><text>The assurances referred to in
subsection (a)(1) are the following:</text>
<paragraph id="IDE327A02EB2E04BAB94F731A209C8474D"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Job
opportunities covered by collective bargaining agreements</header><text>With
respect to a job opportunity that is covered under a collective bargaining
agreement:</text>
<subparagraph id="ID0AC00909B38B4709840DE64C8F50F1A4"><enum>(A)</enum><header>Union contract
described</header><text>The job opportunity is covered by a union contract
which was negotiated at arm’s length between a bona fide union and the
employer.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="IDBA999236B9E74F0EBA2FD8F92EB22480"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Strike or
lockout</header><text>The specific job opportunity for which the employer is
requesting an H–2A worker is not vacant because the former occupant is on
strike or being locked out in the course of a labor dispute.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="ID82335E5D657D44AE8652319359A2D09D"><enum>(C)</enum><header>Notification of
bargaining representatives</header><text>The employer, at the time of filing
the application, has provided notice of the filing under this paragraph to the
bargaining representative of the employer’s employees in the occupational
classification at the place or places of employment for which aliens are
sought.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="ID6302C0D8A3A047A1B031C42173D9236B"><enum>(D)</enum><header>Temporary or
seasonal job opportunities</header><text>The job opportunity is temporary or
seasonal.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="ID80633BDD4A5F4F118795430106FDB237"><enum>(E)</enum><header>Offers to
united states workers</header><text>The employer has offered or will offer the
job to any eligible United States worker who applies and is equally or better
qualified for the job for which the nonimmigrant is, or the nonimmigrants are,
sought and who will be available at the time and place of need.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="IDB4CA721033094D1C858D56F6C9B58953"><enum>(F)</enum><header>Provision of
insurance</header><text>If the job opportunity is not covered by the State
workers’ compensation law, the employer will provide, at no cost to the worker,
insurance covering injury and disease arising out of, and in the course of, the
worker’s employment which will provide benefits at least equal to those
provided under the State’s workers’ compensation law for comparable
employment.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="ID81C96BB6AC2746869D698CBDE67D4189"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Job
opportunities not covered by collective bargaining
agreements</header><text>With respect to a job opportunity that is not covered
under a collective bargaining agreement:</text>
<subparagraph id="ID8FB048C91865429B9F21A7D3E20F6365"><enum>(A)</enum><header>Strike or
lockout</header><text>The specific job opportunity for which the employer has
applied for an H–2A worker is not vacant because the former occupant is on
strike or being locked out in the course of a labor dispute.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="IDD085F88BE2174DA8A7BE58BE09ED4E14"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Temporary or
seasonal job opportunities</header><text>The job opportunity is temporary or
seasonal.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="ID308F0B99F8DD4FE59151F18CBE534ED3"><enum>(C)</enum><header>Benefit, wage,
and working conditions</header><text>The employer will provide, at a minimum,
the benefits, wages, and working conditions required by section 218A to all
workers employed in the job opportunities for which the employer has applied
for an H–2A worker under subsection (a) and to all other workers in the same
occupation at the place of employment.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="ID8FC8883ED0C049929CE06C9BEAAF0D5F"><enum>(D)</enum><header>Nondisplacement
of United States workers</header><text>The employer did not displace and will
not displace a United States worker employed by the employer during the period
of employment and for a period of 30 days preceding the period of employment in
the occupation at the place of employment for which the employer has applied
for an H–2A worker.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="IDF5D78011773C4E9C9C1C63591B791534"><enum>(E)</enum><header>Requirements
for placement of the nonimmigrant with other employers</header><text>The
employer will not place the nonimmigrant with another employer unless—</text>
<clause id="ID7E644362AEA9421887098BFF2A5CF498"><enum>(i)</enum><text>the nonimmigrant
performs duties in whole or in part at 1 or more worksites owned, operated, or
controlled by such other employer;</text>
</clause><clause id="IDE5952E15BB904F429DE37A50E2C849F7"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>there are
indicia of an employment relationship between the nonimmigrant and such other
employer; and</text>
</clause><clause id="IDEC594D32596A4F728EB02C32CA426423"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>the employer
has inquired of the other employer as to whether, and has no actual knowledge
or notice that, during the period of employment and for a period of 30 days
preceding the period of employment, the other employer has displaced or intends
to displace a United States worker employed by the other employer in the
occupation at the place of employment for which the employer seeks approval to
employ H–2A workers.</text>
</clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="ID89C0AB118FFF4E4DA458E35FD08005C8"><enum>(F)</enum><header>Statement of
liability</header><text>The application form shall include a clear statement
explaining the liability under subparagraph (E) of an employer if the other
employer described in such subparagraph displaces a United States worker as
described in such subparagraph.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="ID0A6FBCFEB1E342DDB0A5EB7E122502E4"><enum>(G)</enum><header>Provision of
insurance</header><text>If the job opportunity is not covered by the State
workers’ compensation law, the employer will provide, at no cost to the worker,
insurance covering injury and disease arising out of and in the course of the
worker’s employment which will provide benefits at least equal to those
provided under the State’s workers’ compensation law for comparable
employment.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="ID7852470E5C3A4E3CB5BFFF3716D098D7"><enum>(H)</enum><header>Employment of
United States workers</header>
<clause id="ID705AD7561EC1441FAD8B2B0A7C0E9A5E"><enum>(i)</enum><header>Recruitment</header><text>The
employer has taken or will take the following steps to recruit United States
workers for the job opportunities for which the H–2A nonimmigrant is, or H–2A
nonimmigrants are, sought:</text>
<subclause id="IDA04F207ADC5947DC9D53189696E865CC"><enum>(I)</enum><header>Contacting
former workers</header><text>The employer shall make reasonable efforts through
the sending of a letter by United States Postal Service mail, or otherwise, to
contact any United States worker the employer employed during the previous
season in the occupation at the place of intended employment for which the
employer is applying for workers and has made the availability of the
employer’s job opportunities in the occupation at the place of intended
employment known to such previous workers, unless the worker was terminated
from employment by the employer for a lawful job-related reason or abandoned
the job before the worker completed the period of employment of the job
opportunity for which the worker was hired.</text>
</subclause><subclause id="ID1E324650B5BE4E51A0A2C9AFFA7BEB91"><enum>(II)</enum><header>Filing a job
offer with the local office of the state employment security
agency</header><text>Not later than 28 days before the date on which the
employer desires to employ an H–2A worker in a temporary or seasonal
agricultural job opportunity, the employer shall submit a copy of the job offer
described in subsection (a)(2) to the local office of the State employment
security agency which serves the area of intended employment and authorize the
posting of the job opportunity on <quote>America’s Job Bank</quote> or other
electronic job registry, except that nothing in this subclause shall require
the employer to file an interstate job order under section 653 of title 20,
Code of Federal Regulations.</text>
</subclause><subclause id="IDE6406EF442C34FA498CB0864BDEA1A1F"><enum>(III)</enum><header>Advertising
of job opportunities</header><text>Not later than 14 days before the date on
which the employer desires to employ an H–2A worker in a temporary or seasonal
agricultural job opportunity, the employer shall advertise the availability of
the job opportunities for which the employer is seeking workers in a
publication in the local labor market that is likely to be patronized by
potential farm workers.</text>
</subclause><subclause id="ID51834DCE81754E43841915BE8878EA7C"><enum>(IV)</enum><header>Emergency
procedures</header><text>The Secretary of Labor shall, by regulation, provide a
procedure for acceptance and approval of applications in which the employer has
not complied with the provisions of this subparagraph because the employer’s
need for H–2A workers could not reasonably have been foreseen.</text>
</subclause></clause><clause id="ID1083C69BB3734209B8F587B465892A59"><enum>(ii)</enum><header>Job
offers</header><text>The employer has offered or will offer the job to any
eligible United States worker who applies and is equally or better qualified
for the job for which the nonimmigrant is, or nonimmigrants are, sought and who
will be available at the time and place of need.</text>
</clause><clause id="ID2CFD661716964EB5AF2337E553A87D1D"><enum>(iii)</enum><header>Period of
employment</header><text>The employer will provide employment to any qualified
United States worker who applies to the employer during the period beginning on
the date on which the H–2A worker departs for the employer’s place of
employment and ending on the date on which 50 percent of the period of
employment for which the H–2A worker who is in the job was hired has elapsed,
subject to the following requirements:</text>
<subclause id="IDA309310337694728AD624AA4A2340773"><enum>(I)</enum><header>Prohibition</header><text>No
person or entity shall willfully and knowingly withhold United States workers
before the arrival of H–2A workers in order to force the hiring of United
States workers under this clause.</text>
</subclause><subclause id="ID03730CBBC6154143A55671CB8B1EBB8C"><enum>(II)</enum><header>Complaints</header><text>Upon
receipt of a complaint by an employer that a violation of subclause (I) has
occurred, the Secretary of Labor shall immediately investigate. The Secretary
of Labor shall, within 36 hours of the receipt of the complaint, issue findings
concerning the alleged violation. If the Secretary of Labor finds that a
violation has occurred, the Secretary of Labor shall immediately suspend the
application of this clause with respect to that certification for that date of
need.</text>
</subclause><subclause id="IDB0BEB1773ED74599A861F3D43D59F856"><enum>(III)</enum><header>Placement of
united states workers</header><text>Before referring a United States worker to
an employer during the period described in the matter preceding subclause (I),
the Secretary of Labor shall make all reasonable efforts to place the United
States worker in an open job acceptable to the worker, if there are other job
offers pending with the job service that offer similar job opportunities in the
area of intended employment.</text>
</subclause></clause><clause id="ID2BA9BB53BB3942B8A72D4FD389D1D58C"><enum>(iv)</enum><header>Statutory
construction</header><text>Nothing in this subparagraph shall be construed to
prohibit an employer from using such legitimate selection criteria relevant to
the type of job that are normal or customary to the type of job involved so
long as such criteria are not applied in a discriminatory manner.</text>
</clause></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="ID4F9396EBBE8247769AD7261DFFB81C2A"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Applications by
Associations on Behalf of Employer Members</header>
<paragraph id="ID8E0DC182811D41E794879BB2B737A507"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>An agricultural association may file an application under
subsection (a) on behalf of 1 or more of its employer members that the
association certifies in its application has or have agreed in writing to
comply with the requirements of this section and sections 218A, 218B, and
218C.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="ID5998BB30E6CA4CD79416B88D2115CB78"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Treatment of
associations acting as employers</header><text>If an association filing an
application under paragraph (1) is a joint or sole employer of the temporary or
seasonal agricultural workers requested on the application, the certifications
granted under subsection (e)(2)(B) to the association may be used for the
certified job opportunities of any of its producer members named on the
application, and such workers may be transferred among such producer members to
perform the agricultural services of a temporary or seasonal nature for which
the certifications were granted.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="IDFC7829F79403424DB7A2C306EE464722"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Withdrawal of
Applications</header>
<paragraph id="ID64FECA02005E460F9DBD05D6722053E0"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>An employer may withdraw an application filed pursuant to
subsection (a), except that if the employer is an agricultural association, the
association may withdraw an application filed pursuant to subsection (a) with
respect to 1 or more of its members. To withdraw an application, the employer
or association shall notify the Secretary of Labor in writing, and the
Secretary of Labor shall acknowledge in writing the receipt of such withdrawal
notice. An employer who withdraws an application under subsection (a), or on
whose behalf an application is withdrawn, is relieved of the obligations
undertaken in the application.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="ID6225AC7417B943A18B3D7B793E53DB89"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Limitation</header><text>An
application may not be withdrawn while any alien provided status under section
101(a)(15)(H)(ii)(a) pursuant to such application is employed by the
employer.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="ID83F0B1AD14764BA3B942EAB087B0C404"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Obligations
under other statutes</header><text>Any obligation incurred by an employer under
any other law or regulation as a result of the recruitment of United States
workers or H–2A workers under an offer of terms and conditions of employment
required as a result of making an application under subsection (a) is
unaffected by withdrawal of such application.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="IDD6CFF11EF6DC4132BECA748C83DD77EE"><enum>(e)</enum><header>Review and
Approval of Applications</header>
<paragraph id="ID90303EBB075A4EB0B54BB27D9E4ADCC4"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Responsibility
of employers</header><text>The employer shall make available for public
examination, within 1 working day after the date on which an application under
subsection (a) is filed, at the employer’s principal place of business or
worksite, a copy of each such application (and such accompanying documents as
are necessary).</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="IDC2CAB39CD65547CAA177D3E9DF94740B"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Responsibility
of the secretary of labor</header>
<subparagraph id="ID9E0B54AF1FBF482C9EA6039AE71A422F"><enum>(A)</enum><header>Compilation of
list</header><text>The Secretary of Labor shall compile, on a current basis, a
list (by employer and by occupational classification) of the applications filed
under subsection (a). Such list shall include the wage rate, number of workers
sought, period of intended employment, and date of need. The Secretary of Labor
shall make such list available for examination in the District of
Columbia.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="ID37600CBE1B594B74BCC7A62B8039A371"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Review of
applications</header><text>The Secretary of Labor shall review such an
application only for completeness and obvious inaccuracies. Unless the
Secretary of Labor finds that the application is incomplete or obviously
inaccurate, the Secretary of Labor shall certify that the intending employer
has filed with the Secretary of Labor an application as described in subsection
(a). Such certification shall be provided within 7 days of the filing of the
application.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph></subsection></section><after-quoted-block></after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
<quoted-block id="ID093BFB0C4889452DA4EB5E158021663A" style="OLC">
<section id="IDDF795244136B4875AB0120A9108DD092"><enum>218A.</enum><header>H–2a
employment requirements</header>
<subsection id="IDCD300EA086384C49AE87011E4C3D3D9C"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Preferential
Treatment of Aliens Prohibited</header><text>Employers seeking to hire United
States workers shall offer the United States workers no less than the same
benefits, wages, and working conditions that the employer is offering, intends
to offer, or will provide to H–2A workers. Conversely, no job offer may impose
on United States workers any restrictions or obligations which will not be
imposed on the employer’s H–2A workers.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="ID906EE97617F14FB0A76A29179D31C98C"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Minimum
Benefits, Wages, and Working Conditions</header><text>Except in cases where
higher benefits, wages, or working conditions are required by the provisions of
subsection (a), in order to protect similarly employed United States workers
from adverse effects with respect to benefits, wages, and working conditions,
every job offer which shall accompany an application under section 218(b)(2)
shall include each of the following benefit, wage, and working condition
provisions:</text>
<paragraph id="ID35540BCA21BF472BB745254D2E3C9E72"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Requirement to
provide housing or a housing allowance</header>
<subparagraph id="IDDA4EDD2B15B848F389CC6D4EB1D59EA8"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>An employer applying under section 218(a) for H–2A
workers shall offer to provide housing at no cost to all workers in job
opportunities for which the employer has applied under that section and to all
other workers in the same occupation at the place of employment, whose place of
residence is beyond normal commuting distance.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="ID82D43819DAFF40B5993768F39A7B72F2"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Type of
housing</header><text>In complying with subparagraph (A), an employer may, at
the employer’s election, provide housing that meets applicable Federal
standards for temporary labor camps or secure housing that meets applicable
local standards for rental or public accommodation housing or other
substantially similar class of habitation, or in the absence of applicable
local standards, State standards for rental or public accommodation housing or
other substantially similar class of habitation. In the absence of applicable
local or State standards, Federal temporary labor camp standards shall
apply.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="IDD6518B72D09C4E38A8068ABC2B3C061C"><enum>(C)</enum><header>Family
housing</header><text>If it is the prevailing practice in the occupation and
area of intended employment to provide family housing, family housing shall be
provided to workers with families who request it.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="ID0D3D7F6279AD46539DE13AF141CB9234"><enum>(D)</enum><header>Workers engaged
in the range production of livestock</header><text>The Secretary of Labor shall
issue regulations that address the specific requirements for the provision of
housing to workers engaged in the range production of livestock.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="IDAAB6AA72587146DDAA6E8CD888D1E008"><enum>(E)</enum><header>Limitation</header><text>Nothing
in this paragraph shall be construed to require an employer to provide or
secure housing for persons who were not entitled to such housing under the
temporary labor certification regulations in effect on June 1, 1986.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="ID8B0C99E8CDC7455A8889B105C9913C8A"><enum>(F)</enum><header>Charges for
housing</header>
<clause id="ID70491AF430A54C60A6876F36E72B942E"><enum>(i)</enum><header>Charges for
public housing</header><text>If public housing provided for migrant
agricultural workers under the auspices of a local, county, or State government
is secured by an employer, and use of the public housing unit normally requires
charges from migrant workers, such charges shall be paid by the employer
directly to the appropriate individual or entity affiliated with the housing’s
management.</text>
</clause><clause id="ID88741BED8A414D2CB1B756C896A956C8"><enum>(ii)</enum><header>Deposit
charges</header><text>Charges in the form of deposits for bedding or other
similar incidentals related to housing shall not be levied upon workers by
employers who provide housing for their workers. An employer may require a
worker found to have been responsible for damage to such housing which is not
the result of normal wear and tear related to habitation to reimburse the
employer for the reasonable cost of repair of such damage.</text>
</clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="ID91A01AB087714D9D898BF660AC9217BF"><enum>(G)</enum><header>Housing
allowance as alternative</header>
<clause id="ID77E9D31F63E342F49F8CFCC851CD34BA"><enum>(i)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>If the requirement set out in clause (ii) is satisfied,
the employer may provide a reasonable housing allowance instead of offering
housing under subparagraph (A). Upon the request of a worker seeking assistance
in locating housing, the employer shall make a good faith effort to assist the
worker in identifying and locating housing in the area of intended employment.
An employer who offers a housing allowance to a worker, or assists a worker in
locating housing which the worker occupies, pursuant to this clause shall not
be deemed a housing provider under section 203 of the Migrant and Seasonal
Agricultural Worker Protection Act (29 U.S.C. 1823) solely by virtue of
providing such housing allowance. No housing allowance may be used for housing
which is owned or controlled by the employer.</text>
</clause><clause id="IDACBBAF4F237741759260421C8FF95D34"><enum>(ii)</enum><header>Certification</header><text>The
requirement of this clause is satisfied if the Governor of the State certifies
to the Secretary of Labor that there is adequate housing available in the area
of intended employment for migrant farm workers and H–2A workers who are
seeking temporary housing while employed in agricultural work. Such
certification shall expire after 3 years unless renewed by the Governor of the
State.</text>
</clause><clause id="ID85A51ED23AAC40DCA92AB48C73974A4A"><enum>(iii)</enum><header>Amount of
allowance</header>
<subclause id="ID144D2CD63D4346F4B2E505CC5312432B"><enum>(I)</enum><header>Nonmetropolitan
counties</header><text>If the place of employment of the workers provided an
allowance under this subparagraph is a nonmetropolitan county, the amount of
the housing allowance under this subparagraph shall be equal to the statewide
average fair market rental for existing housing for nonmetropolitan counties
for the State, as established by the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development
pursuant to section 8(c) of the <act-name parsable-cite="USHA">United States
Housing Act of 1937</act-name> (42 U.S.C. 1437f(c)), based on a 2-bedroom
dwelling unit and an assumption of 2 persons per bedroom.</text>
</subclause><subclause id="IDDC3FD8DF4DEC4C26A261DF75A9E59331"><enum>(II)</enum><header>Metropolitan
counties</header><text>If the place of employment of the workers provided an
allowance under this paragraph is in a metropolitan county, the amount of the
housing allowance under this subparagraph shall be equal to the statewide
average fair market rental for existing housing for metropolitan counties for
the State, as established by the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development
pursuant to section 8(c) of the <act-name parsable-cite="USHA">United States
Housing Act of 1937</act-name> (42 U.S.C. 1437f(c)), based on a 2-bedroom
dwelling unit and an assumption of 2 persons per bedroom.</text>
</subclause></clause></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="ID3E880742EB2E4CF5A335459D397B10E4"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Reimbursement
of transportation</header>
<subparagraph id="ID385433E88024477297E751026B9C06E6"><enum>(A)</enum><header>To place of
employment</header><text>A worker who completes 50 percent of the period of
employment of the job opportunity for which the worker was hired shall be
reimbursed by the employer for the cost of the worker’s transportation and
subsistence from the place from which the worker came to work for the employer
(or place of last employment, if the worker traveled from such place) to the
place of employment.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="IDEA5DED1E9CB24CC9A7BFFE6CF02D19BF"><enum>(B)</enum><header>From place of
employment</header><text>A worker who completes the period of employment for
the job opportunity involved shall be reimbursed by the employer for the cost
of the worker’s transportation and subsistence from the place of employment to
the place from which the worker, disregarding intervening employment, came to
work for the employer, or to the place of next employment, if the worker has
contracted with a subsequent employer who has not agreed to provide or pay for
the worker’s transportation and subsistence to such subsequent employer’s place
of employment.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="IDD58A1256841F48CCBD9D85C6CB6E16EB"><enum>(C)</enum><header>Limitation</header>
<clause id="ID2791627838DA40A8959F1C96A9D655B8"><enum>(i)</enum><header>Amount of
reimbursement</header><text>Except as provided in clause (ii), the amount of
reimbursement provided under subparagraph (A) or (B) to a worker or alien shall
not exceed the lesser of—</text>
<subclause id="ID697DF60BE92B46D1A1D5044DC4843ADA"><enum>(I)</enum><text>the actual cost
to the worker or alien of the transportation and subsistence involved;
or</text>
</subclause><subclause id="IDDC3B9F9248864C4293EFAD8E12074382"><enum>(II)</enum><text>the most
economical and reasonable common carrier transportation charges and subsistence
costs for the distance involved.</text>
</subclause></clause><clause id="IDAF1F2D1539FC435790A7B7043B1DDB33"><enum>(ii)</enum><header>Distance
traveled</header><text>No reimbursement under subparagraph (A) or (B) shall be
required if the distance traveled is 100 miles or less, or the worker is not
residing in employer-provided housing or housing secured through an allowance
as provided in paragraph (1)(G).</text>
</clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="ID1724F682A44C4EC5B19D9797C6CFE42A"><enum>(D)</enum><header>Early
termination</header><text>If the worker is laid off or employment is terminated
for contract impossibility (as described in paragraph (4)(D)) before the
anticipated ending date of employment, the employer shall provide the
transportation and subsistence required by subparagraph (B) and,
notwithstanding whether the worker has completed 50 percent of the period of
employment, shall provide the transportation reimbursement required by
subparagraph (A).</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="ID4178EE39A31F4EFAA7EFC809B4DEE116"><enum>(E)</enum><header>Transportation
between living quarters and worksite</header><text>The employer shall provide
transportation between the worker’s living quarters and the employer’s worksite
without cost to the worker, and such transportation will be in accordance with
applicable laws and regulations.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="IDB8258032D5AA421F88CA3D52DE2D6F27"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Required
wages</header>
<subparagraph id="IDCCD212472F9E493C9B92F30C760257C6"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>An employer applying for workers under section 218(a)
shall offer to pay, and shall pay, all workers in the occupation for which the
employer has applied for workers, not less (and is not required to pay more)
than the greater of the prevailing wage in the occupation in the area of
intended employment or the adverse effect wage rate. No worker shall be paid
less than the greater of the hourly wage prescribed under section 6(a)(1) of
the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 (29 U.S.C. 206(a)(1)) or the applicable
State minimum wage.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="ID5003B73CC8424B7C9C8207AACD17AAFA"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Limitation</header><text>Effective
on the date of the enactment of the Agricultural Job Opportunities, Benefits,
and Security Act of 2007 and continuing for 3 years thereafter, no adverse
effect wage rate for a State may be more than the adverse effect wage rate for
that State in effect on January 1, 2003, as established by section 655.107 of
title 20, Code of Federal Regulations.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="ID7735211761A54CDEB980365B95AC7645"><enum>(C)</enum><header>Required wages
after 3-year freeze</header>
<clause id="ID599D932DB9BC4D72A85505F1437318D2"><enum>(i)</enum><header>First
adjustment</header><text>If Congress does not set a new wage standard
applicable to this section before the first March 1 that is not less than 3
years after the date of enactment of this section, the adverse effect wage rate
for each State beginning on such March 1 shall be the wage rate that would have
resulted if the adverse effect wage rate in effect on January 1, 2003, had been
annually adjusted, beginning on March 1, 2006, by the lesser of—</text>
<subclause id="ID40EB6589F24E4C02AF3EBA532060C01F"><enum>(I)</enum><text>the 12-month
percentage change in the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers between
December of the second preceding year and December of the preceding year;
and</text>
</subclause><subclause id="IDAEB7D010D33D410994766DD6118A274C"><enum>(II)</enum><text>4
percent.</text>
</subclause></clause><clause id="IDFDAE7CC0C5D64E13B78150DA8FF9C057"><enum>(ii)</enum><header>Subsequent
annual adjustments</header><text>Beginning on the first March 1 that is not
less than 4 years after the date of enactment of this section, and each March 1
thereafter, the adverse effect wage rate then in effect for each State shall be
adjusted by the lesser of—</text>
<subclause id="IDBD94BF83140249789DF4F3E3BA1B0FB7"><enum>(I)</enum><text>the 12-month
percentage change in the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers between
December of the second preceding year and December of the preceding year;
and</text>
</subclause><subclause id="ID12D78A1CF8EA46E783D657A245DB44D2"><enum>(II)</enum><text>4
percent.</text>
</subclause></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="ID9D9D79A5940E431BAC3F7ABCDFE883DA"><enum>(D)</enum><header>Deductions</header><text>The
employer shall make only those deductions from the worker’s wages that are
authorized by law or are reasonable and customary in the occupation and area of
employment. The job offer shall specify all deductions not required by law
which the employer will make from the worker’s wages.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="ID5CD1D95CAAFC48EBAC5089B75BD562F8"><enum>(E)</enum><header>Frequency of
pay</header><text>The employer shall pay the worker not less frequently than
twice monthly, or in accordance with the prevailing practice in the area of
employment, whichever is more frequent.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="ID8FE6887743064AD3A41C332CA1170B55"><enum>(F)</enum><header>Hours and
earnings statements</header><text>The employer shall furnish to the worker, on
or before each payday, in 1 or more written statements—</text>
<clause id="ID0E5C0BCC789D44B582141A5F9EED5A40"><enum>(i)</enum><text>the worker’s
total earnings for the pay period;</text>
</clause><clause id="ID11E8E4EDAF4E419292227A25A5E006E7"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>the worker’s
hourly rate of pay, piece rate of pay, or both;</text>
</clause><clause id="ID882C6CF7E12145D98DF7ADC3903783BC"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>the hours of
employment which have been offered to the worker (broken out by hours offered
in accordance with and over and above the <fraction>3/4</fraction> guarantee
described in paragraph (4);</text>
</clause><clause id="IDEB96104548434FE59DE390F3F9589A83"><enum>(iv)</enum><text>the hours
actually worked by the worker;</text>
</clause><clause id="ID92656B609E3F4939AB83A3D72AF2D40D"><enum>(v)</enum><text>an itemization of
the deductions made from the worker’s wages; and</text>
</clause><clause id="ID8481AF80811D43A2ACAB0A10D9960379"><enum>(vi)</enum><text>if piece rates
of pay are used, the units produced daily.</text>
</clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="ID412C8E5B62964EFBBDF21A26514069FD"><enum>(G)</enum><header>Report on wage
protections</header><text>Not later than December 31, 2009, the Comptroller
General of the United States shall prepare and transmit to the Secretary of
Labor, the Committee on the Judiciary of the Senate, and Committee on the
Judiciary of the House of Representatives, a report that addresses—</text>
<clause id="IDEABCA2656AA0401C97F94672882B60A6"><enum>(i)</enum><text>whether the
employment of H–2A or unauthorized aliens in the United States agricultural
workforce has depressed United States farm worker wages below the levels that
would otherwise have prevailed if alien farm workers had not been employed in
the United States;</text>
</clause><clause id="ID23AAF405E6DF4D72B5BD1451BE847C31"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>whether an
adverse effect wage rate is necessary to prevent wages of United States farm
workers in occupations in which H–2A workers are employed from falling below
the wage levels that would have prevailed in the absence of the employment of
H–2A workers in those occupations;</text>
</clause><clause id="IDA8DA20401F0F4DD1A5A15424303C287D"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>whether
alternative wage standards, such as a prevailing wage standard, would be
sufficient to prevent wages in occupations in which H–2A workers are employed
from falling below the wage level that would have prevailed in the absence of
H–2A employment;</text>
</clause><clause id="ID69B8D09FD29241FE9B2A568B097BEE63"><enum>(iv)</enum><text>whether any
changes are warranted in the current methodologies for calculating the adverse
effect wage rate and the prevailing wage; and</text>
</clause><clause id="ID58F57C3EDFA1447E93AAF39A70ABFAF1"><enum>(v)</enum><text>recommendations
for future wage protection under this section.</text>
</clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="ID0E77F17BDAF24424B02506284237A27E"><enum>(H)</enum><header>Commission on
wage standards</header>
<clause id="ID7A36BC7F3DC94A2F8776BD1EBCFA771C"><enum>(i)</enum><header>Establishment</header><text>There
is established the Commission on Agricultural Wage Standards under the H–2A
program (in this subparagraph referred to as the
<quote>Commission</quote>).</text>
</clause><clause id="ID42CEA931782A4A85A8CFA944883B51D4"><enum>(ii)</enum><header>Composition</header><text>The
Commission shall consist of 10 members as follows:</text>
<subclause id="IDBD7A53240B374099AAE94F2730C96043"><enum>(I)</enum><text>Four
representatives of agricultural employers and 1 representative of the
Department of Agriculture, each appointed by the Secretary of
Agriculture.</text>
</subclause><subclause id="IDD0079C895A024DC696A1D5378AC1A6F7"><enum>(II)</enum><text>Four
representatives of agricultural workers and 1 representative of the Department
of Labor, each appointed by the Secretary of Labor.</text>
</subclause></clause><clause id="IDF04084252814441C953C3973A62D74E5"><enum>(iii)</enum><header>Functions</header><text>The
Commission shall conduct a study that shall address—</text>
<subclause id="ID858AEBA3C0454D53975532F67E35947F"><enum>(I)</enum><text>whether the
employment of H–2A or unauthorized aliens in the United States agricultural
workforce has depressed United States farm worker wages below the levels that
would otherwise have prevailed if alien farm workers had not been employed in
the United States;</text>
</subclause><subclause id="ID0FECE49D715243A3AA56E5C42BD222E5"><enum>(II)</enum><text>whether an
adverse effect wage rate is necessary to prevent wages of United States farm
workers in occupations in which H–2A workers are employed from falling below
the wage levels that would have prevailed in the absence of the employment of
H–2A workers in those occupations;</text>
</subclause><subclause id="ID6E4B48FDF8664B2182D9C54C5C6262B8"><enum>(III)</enum><text>whether
alternative wage standards, such as a prevailing wage standard, would be
sufficient to prevent wages in occupations in which H–2A workers are employed
from falling below the wage level that would have prevailed in the absence of
H–2A employment;</text>
</subclause><subclause id="ID04FC6B06E9B842C3ACBDF72E42E9924A"><enum>(IV)</enum><text>whether any
changes are warranted in the current methodologies for calculating the adverse
effect wage rate and the prevailing wage rate; and</text>
</subclause><subclause id="ID92F0863DEE224DF9B209989A424AF9E0"><enum>(V)</enum><text>recommendations
for future wage protection under this section.</text>
</subclause></clause><clause id="IDEA5B013E0D154A3D97FFC53F8CA9B209"><enum>(iv)</enum><header>Final
report</header><text>Not later than December 31, 2009, the Commission shall
submit a report to the Congress setting forth the findings of the study
conducted under clause (iii).</text>
</clause><clause id="ID36A7223FE3BB49F1A7F040DE03A69951"><enum>(v)</enum><header>Termination
date</header><text>The Commission shall terminate upon submitting its final
report.</text>
</clause></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="ID38DF46530EF44456B978E206E313A37D"><enum>(4)</enum><header>Guarantee of
employment</header>
<subparagraph id="ID484DD03ACB9A432FAAAE78FEBDB9B19E"><enum>(A)</enum><header>Offer to
worker</header><text>The employer shall guarantee to offer the worker
employment for the hourly equivalent of at least <fraction>3/4</fraction> of
the work days of the total period of employment, beginning with the first work
day after the arrival of the worker at the place of employment and ending on
the expiration date specified in the job offer. For purposes of this
subparagraph, the hourly equivalent means the number of hours in the work days
as stated in the job offer and shall exclude the worker’s Sabbath and Federal
holidays. If the employer affords the United States or H–2A worker less
employment than that required under this paragraph, the employer shall pay such
worker the amount which the worker would have earned had the worker, in fact,
worked for the guaranteed number of hours.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="IDE5C71FB0E8834D91BC0E16CB99ED8B13"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Failure to
work</header><text>Any hours which the worker fails to work, up to a maximum of
the number of hours specified in the job offer for a work day, when the worker
has been offered an opportunity to do so, and all hours of work actually
performed (including voluntary work in excess of the number of hours specified
in the job offer in a work day, on the worker’s Sabbath, or on Federal
holidays) may be counted by the employer in calculating whether the period of
guaranteed employment has been met.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="IDF199DDFDB7404363853DA8A1FB2D1F07"><enum>(C)</enum><header>Abandonment of
employment, termination for cause</header><text>If the worker voluntarily
abandons employment before the end of the contract period, or is terminated for
cause, the worker is not entitled to the <quote><fraction>3/4</fraction>
guarantee</quote> described in subparagraph (A).</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="IDFA0F16F791A54381BCFF1CD2239A6937"><enum>(D)</enum><header>Contract
impossibility</header><text>If, before the expiration of the period of
employment specified in the job offer, the services of the worker are no longer
required for reasons beyond the control of the employer due to any form of
natural disaster, including a flood, hurricane, freeze, earthquake, fire,
drought, plant or animal disease or pest infestation, or regulatory drought,
before the guarantee in subparagraph (A) is fulfilled, the employer may
terminate the worker’s employment. In the event of such termination, the
employer shall fulfill the employment guarantee in subparagraph (A) for the
work days that have elapsed from the first work day after the arrival of the
worker to the termination of employment. In such cases, the employer will make
efforts to transfer the United States worker to other comparable employment
acceptable to the worker. If such transfer is not effected, the employer shall
provide the return transportation required in paragraph (2)(D).</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="ID7544DA0D6C5D4613B045329B733220FB"><enum>(5)</enum><header>Motor vehicle
safety</header>
<subparagraph id="IDF9A17CD0CF184CF5A95D331E6B84F12B"><enum>(A)</enum><header>Mode of
transportation subject to coverage</header>
<clause id="ID50830028B05E4225A901DBFDC6D65B72"><enum>(i)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>Except as provided in clauses (iii) and (iv), this
subsection applies to any H–2A employer that uses or causes to be used any
vehicle to transport an H–2A worker within the United States.</text>
</clause><clause id="ID752A22ACC4C04583AF1CCD9CCFAB37B3"><enum>(ii)</enum><header>Defined
term</header><text>In this paragraph, the term <term>uses or causes to be
used</term>—</text>
<subclause id="IDD67C6E10975446159E452E1A8E4CA12F"><enum>(I)</enum><text>applies only to
transportation provided by an H–2A employer to an H–2A worker, or by a farm
labor contractor to an H–2A worker at the request or direction of an H–2A
employer; and</text>
</subclause><subclause id="ID7E7D4709083E4EB69DB0868F2737043C"><enum>(II)</enum><text>does not apply
to—</text>
<item id="ID0D35458C14C64B5EBA4E62242C541E79"><enum>(aa)</enum><text>transportation
provided, or transportation arrangements made, by an H–2A worker, unless the
employer specifically requested or arranged such transportation; or</text>
</item><item id="IDB22C875747974EF29317439286B57D4E"><enum>(bb)</enum><text>car pooling
arrangements made by H–2A workers themselves, using 1 of the workers’ own
vehicles, unless specifically requested by the employer directly or through a
farm labor contractor.</text>
</item></subclause></clause><clause id="ID1A895C167AC1419E99DEDAB2BE06D49A"><enum>(iii)</enum><header>Clarification</header><text>Providing
a job offer to an H–2A worker that causes the worker to travel to or from the
place of employment, or the payment or reimbursement of the transportation
costs of an H–2A worker by an H–2A employer, shall not constitute an
arrangement of, or participation in, such transportation.</text>
</clause><clause id="ID27F6405280A142848A74B91505B79D65"><enum>(iv)</enum><header>Agricultural
machinery and equipment excluded</header><text>This subsection does not apply
to the transportation of an H–2A worker on a tractor, combine, harvester,
picker, or other similar machinery or equipment while such worker is actually
engaged in the planting, cultivating, or harvesting of agricultural commodities
or the care of livestock or poultry or engaged in transportation incidental
thereto.</text>
</clause><clause id="IDF9EDDA09112A4C368C17E6416EE42D5E"><enum>(v)</enum><header>Common carriers
excluded</header><text>This subsection does not apply to common carrier motor
vehicle transportation in which the provider holds itself out to the general
public as engaging in the transportation of passengers for hire and holds a
valid certification of authorization for such purposes from an appropriate
Federal, State, or local agency.</text>
</clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="IDAB8D310CBEC646A3B13EA43D91CC45C9"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Applicability
of standards, licensing, and insurance requirements</header>
<clause id="ID88D31690B51747A9BB92E1FE5C01192E"><enum>(i)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>When using, or causing to be used, any vehicle for the
purpose of providing transportation to which this subparagraph applies, each
employer shall—</text>
<subclause id="IDB1FC8CBC19804D58805853C78518516B"><enum>(I)</enum><text>ensure that each
such vehicle conforms to the standards prescribed by the Secretary of Labor
under section 401(b) of the Migrant and Seasonal Agricultural Worker Protection
Act (29 U.S.C. 1841(b)) and other applicable Federal and State safety
standards;</text>
</subclause><subclause id="ID9D50F1B2C3A644E79DA0031E8EF9AC92"><enum>(II)</enum><text>ensure that each
driver has a valid and appropriate license, as provided by State law, to
operate the vehicle; and</text>
</subclause><subclause id="ID5EE2D45746154D5C89101478756DBB36"><enum>(III)</enum><text>have an
insurance policy or a liability bond that is in effect which insures the
employer against liability for damage to persons or property arising from the
ownership, operation, or causing to be operated, of any vehicle used to
transport any H–2A worker.</text>
</subclause></clause><clause id="IDAA847E161A944B928587EFC2A69B9A52"><enum>(ii)</enum><header>Amount of
insurance required</header><text>The level of insurance required shall be
determined by the Secretary of Labor pursuant to regulations to be issued under
this subsection.</text>
</clause><clause id="IDC1C0D933383342BDB7C0B20544BEDE56"><enum>(iii)</enum><header>Effect of
workers’ compensation coverage</header><text>If the employer of any H–2A worker
provides workers’ compensation coverage for such worker in the case of bodily
injury or death as provided by State law, the following adjustments in the
requirements of subparagraph (B)(i)(III) relating to having an insurance policy
or liability bond apply:</text>
<subclause id="ID43F6BF459BB04C7DA88A664318FC7518"><enum>(I)</enum><text>No insurance
policy or liability bond shall be required of the employer, if such workers are
transported only under circumstances for which there is coverage under such
State law.</text>
</subclause><subclause id="IDBAB9F2956F87492D8C68C8D6F48E9D09"><enum>(II)</enum><text>An insurance
policy or liability bond shall be required of the employer for circumstances
under which coverage for the transportation of such workers is not provided
under such State law.</text>
</subclause></clause></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="ID814DC1ABA8CD48378844A01991F0DED6"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Compliance With
Labor Laws</header><text>An employer shall assure that, except as otherwise
provided in this section, the employer will comply with all applicable Federal,
State, and local labor laws, including laws affecting migrant and seasonal
agricultural workers, with respect to all United States workers and alien
workers employed by the employer, except that a violation of this assurance
shall not constitute a violation of the Migrant and Seasonal Agricultural
Worker Protection Act (29 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.).</text>
</subsection><subsection id="ID31BCFB5BC53940C3BCF7C71371629E31"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Copy of Job
Offer</header><text>The employer shall provide to the worker, not later than
the day the work commences, a copy of the employer’s application and job offer
described in section 218(a), or, if the employer will require the worker to
enter into a separate employment contract covering the employment in question,
such separate employment contract.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="ID7C10498804244F229060C4F772BA11E0"><enum>(e)</enum><header>Range
Production of Livestock</header><text>Nothing in this section, section 218, or
section 218B shall preclude the Secretary of Labor and the Secretary from
continuing to apply special procedures and requirements to the admission and
employment of aliens in occupations involving the range production of
livestock.</text>
</subsection></section><section id="ID7B862B15F70F4DE081E882D8732B179F"><enum>218B.</enum><header>Procedure for
admission and extension of stay of h–2a workers</header>
<subsection id="ID8A28F97413D2432D9787A205B86BC42A"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Petitioning for
Admission</header><text>An employer, or an association acting as an agent or
joint employer for its members, that seeks the admission into the United States
of an H–2A worker may file a petition with the Secretary. The petition shall be
accompanied by an accepted and currently valid certification provided by the
Secretary of Labor under section 218(e)(2)(B) covering the petitioner.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="ID941CD3D38A7644A7835924BCC9E27174"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Expedited
Adjudication by the Secretary</header><text>The Secretary shall establish a
procedure for expedited adjudication of petitions filed under subsection (a)
and within 7 working days shall, by fax, cable, or other means assuring
expedited delivery, transmit a copy of notice of action on the petition to the
petitioner and, in the case of approved petitions, to the appropriate
immigration officer at the port of entry or United States consulate (as the
case may be) where the petitioner has indicated that the alien beneficiary (or
beneficiaries) will apply for a visa or admission to the United States.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="ID27C197B6F3074748A718EA8E7BA4B463"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Criteria for
Admissibility</header>
<paragraph id="IDF70906EECE5146CBB07B4E530D0831B9"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>An H–2A worker shall be considered admissible to the
United States if the alien is otherwise admissible under this section, section
218, and section 218A, and the alien is not ineligible under paragraph
(2).</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="IDFD931BDE91CA4D99984CF9A319CFE4D4"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Disqualification</header><text>An
alien shall be considered inadmissible to the United States and ineligible for
nonimmigrant status under section 101(a)(15)(H)(ii)(a) if the alien has, at any
time during the past 5 years—</text>
<subparagraph id="IDC70DE589D3B44ECFAE518915CC3DBF54"><enum>(A)</enum><text>violated a
material provision of this section, including the requirement to promptly
depart the United States when the alien’s authorized period of admission under
this section has expired; or</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="ID4E70D1ED64C34A7F96E955ADF5768E7D"><enum>(B)</enum><text>otherwise
violated a term or condition of admission into the United States as a
nonimmigrant, including overstaying the period of authorized admission as such
a nonimmigrant.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="IDF4C5799CB2784DDCB40F36E7B0222C74"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Waiver of
ineligibility for unlawful presence</header>
<subparagraph id="ID070B0FCB8BD449E9A5BDAFA7A7BBEEB2"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>An alien who has not previously been admitted into the
United States pursuant to this section, and who is otherwise eligible for
admission in accordance with paragraphs (1) and (2), shall not be deemed
inadmissible by virtue of section 212(a)(9)(B). If an alien described in the
preceding sentence is present in the United States, the alien may apply from
abroad for H–2A status, but may not be granted that status in the United
States.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="ID951EFB2074C147AC8B756BC7B7B218B1"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Maintenance of
waiver</header><text>An alien provided an initial waiver of ineligibility
pursuant to subparagraph (A) shall remain eligible for such waiver unless the
alien violates the terms of this section or again becomes ineligible under
section 212(a)(9)(B) by virtue of unlawful presence in the United States after
the date of the initial waiver of ineligibility pursuant to subparagraph
(A).</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="ID7FD8CF335EE84775A03CBB00D353C5D3"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Period of
Admission</header>
<paragraph id="ID6717E929812D4BDC889BBBC070F6AF46"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>The alien shall be admitted for the period of employment
in the application certified by the Secretary of Labor pursuant to section
218(e)(2)(B), not to exceed 10 months, supplemented by a period of not more
than 1 week before the beginning of the period of employment for the purpose of
travel to the worksite and a period of 14 days following the period of
employment for the purpose of departure or extension based on a subsequent
offer of employment, except that—</text>
<subparagraph id="IDCCDD22666B304D99A7026541A2123084"><enum>(A)</enum><text>the alien is not
authorized to be employed during such 14-day period except in the employment
for which the alien was previously authorized; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="ID3B0823A5757D4039B891E8C6CDFB3569"><enum>(B)</enum><text>the total period
of employment, including such 14-day period, may not exceed 10 months.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="ID00624B0C99484A9CAA285B2EFA50A0B7"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Construction</header><text>Nothing
in this subsection shall limit the authority of the Secretary to extend the
stay of the alien under any other provision of this Act.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="IDB98D4BA5CA9D42F0B649F74B5228CEF3"><enum>(e)</enum><header>Abandonment of
Employment</header>
<paragraph id="IDFBFBB2B8C5C54D399885023906CEC9A0"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>An alien admitted or provided status under section
101(a)(15)(H)(ii)(a) who abandons the employment which was the basis for such
admission or status shall be considered to have failed to maintain nonimmigrant
status as an H–2A worker and shall depart the United States or be subject to
removal under section 237(a)(1)(C)(i).</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="ID611C11E73419468A81B12DF66CC69095"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Report by
employer</header><text>The employer, or association acting as agent for the
employer, shall notify the Secretary not later than 7 days after an H–2A worker
prematurely abandons employment.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="ID1E31F618404B47C7B5F7233B0D9E45F2"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Removal by the
secretary</header><text>The Secretary shall promptly remove from the United
States any H–2A worker who violates any term or condition of the worker’s
nonimmigrant status.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="IDACA2B849A43E4334A88BAFC9EAECA23C"><enum>(4)</enum><header>Voluntary
termination</header><text>Notwithstanding paragraph (1), an alien may
voluntarily terminate his or her employment if the alien promptly departs the
United States upon termination of such employment.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="IDAD0FD695E8E340AC957B7E96517B954B"><enum>(f)</enum><header>Replacement of
Alien</header>
<paragraph id="ID618B22E91F244B3FB34374481C4F75E9"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>Upon presentation of the notice to the Secretary required
by subsection (e)(2), the Secretary of State shall promptly issue a visa to,
and the Secretary shall admit into the United States, an eligible alien
designated by the employer to replace an H–2A worker—</text>
<subparagraph id="IDA2EC805C2CEA47B0A9C7AA275DA4F84B"><enum>(A)</enum><text>who abandons or
prematurely terminates employment; or</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="ID3394BE2692D54C3B87CA6B363F9E140F"><enum>(B)</enum><text>whose employment
is terminated after a United States worker is employed pursuant to section
218(b)(2)(H)(iii), if the United States worker voluntarily departs before the
end of the period of intended employment or if the employment termination is
for a lawful job-related reason.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="IDDECE33D1EAFA45C88F08129BD9D53883"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Construction</header><text>Nothing
in this subsection is intended to limit any preference required to be accorded
United States workers under any other provision of this Act.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="ID29BCA33533634CB89CD032D23B270A3D"><enum>(g)</enum><header>Identification
Document</header>
<paragraph id="ID98CADBFBC2DB4F4DBCA79866C08316FE"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>Each alien authorized to be admitted under section
101(a)(15)(H)(ii)(a) shall be provided an identification and employment
eligibility document to verify eligibility for employment in the United States
and verify the alien’s identity.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="IDD7A3C0D843CB4361AF91E3D34364FF09"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Requirements</header><text>No
identification and employment eligibility document may be issued which does not
meet the following requirements:</text>
<subparagraph id="ID154EA007C1C3447BA0123BD29A39A79C"><enum>(A)</enum><text>The document
shall be capable of reliably determining whether—</text>
<clause id="ID3ED9042E2F64402A94C270EF4460F12F"><enum>(i)</enum><text>the individual
with the identification and employment eligibility document whose eligibility
is being verified is in fact eligible for employment;</text>
</clause><clause id="ID5E1860069CF44789AB95715E6FFD6AEA"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>the individual
whose eligibility is being verified is claiming the identity of another person;
and</text>
</clause><clause id="IDA7C5C416FC6F44748BAE6686B31F94B7"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>the individual
whose eligibility is being verified is authorized to be admitted into, and
employed in, the United States as an H–2A worker.</text>
</clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="IDCE17DBD5674747C58768C2BAD734FE36"><enum>(B)</enum><text>The document
shall be in a form that is resistant to counterfeiting and to tampering.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="ID10872E6B992E42F6B42E824888816FFC"><enum>(C)</enum><text>The document
shall—</text>
<clause id="ID0E678A4C93B648A9B53FBA21D4D8EDBC"><enum>(i)</enum><text>be compatible
with other databases of the Secretary for the purpose of excluding aliens from
benefits for which they are not eligible and determining whether the alien is
unlawfully present in the United States; and</text>
</clause><clause id="ID1D865C15E0C84A1A8398FB78DBDABBBC"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>be compatible
with law enforcement databases to determine if the alien has been convicted of
criminal offenses.</text>
</clause></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="IDD26EB6BD481F45068897FAEBD660178A"><enum>(h)</enum><header>Extension of
Stay of H–2A Aliens in the United States</header>
<paragraph id="IDC34F9CC0C0214E6380865EAA3F004146"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Extension of
stay</header><text>If an employer seeks approval to employ an H–2A alien who is
lawfully present in the United States, the petition filed by the employer or an
association pursuant to subsection (a), shall request an extension of the
alien’s stay and a change in the alien’s employment.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="IDE55A761F2A8F4A0B82E9ED26AAC624C8"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Limitation on
filing a petition for extension of stay</header><text>A petition may not be
filed for an extension of an alien’s stay—</text>
<subparagraph id="IDC616D249786D4C68B410ABA8B1FE3925"><enum>(A)</enum><text>for a period of
more than 10 months; or</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="IDD2AA77C01AFC4CF7A02B2A2A09F602E7"><enum>(B)</enum><text>to a date that is
more than 3 years after the date of the alien’s last admission to the United
States under this section.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="IDF560CB35954B4B42BCFBE472C71EE88A"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Work
authorization upon filing a petition for extension of stay</header>
<subparagraph id="IDFBB6B9C6E2304F058CEA294F053A8EFC"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>An alien who is lawfully present in the United States may
commence the employment described in a petition under paragraph (1) on the date
on which the petition is filed.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="IDCC168661AAD54A0CBEC846F4A41D7264"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Definition</header><text>For
purposes of subparagraph (A), the term <term>file</term> means sending the
petition by certified mail via the United States Postal Service, return receipt
requested, or delivered by guaranteed commercial delivery which will provide
the employer with a documented acknowledgment of the date of receipt of the
petition.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="IDC00CF98B7B954092B13148320B0D7141"><enum>(C)</enum><header>Handling of
petition</header><text>The employer shall provide a copy of the employer’s
petition to the alien, who shall keep the petition with the alien’s
identification and employment eligibility document as evidence that the
petition has been filed and that the alien is authorized to work in the United
States.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="ID3D1ECC0186394D7CB6856F6F7210FD4C"><enum>(D)</enum><header>Approval of
petition</header><text>Upon approval of a petition for an extension of stay or
change in the alien’s authorized employment, the Secretary shall provide a new
or updated employment eligibility document to the alien indicating the new
validity date, after which the alien is not required to retain a copy of the
petition.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="ID0E882EBE732D4667BA098D09E81A8EFA"><enum>(4)</enum><header>Limitation on
employment authorization of aliens without valid identification and employment
eligibility document</header><text>An expired identification and employment
eligibility document, together with a copy of a petition for extension of stay
or change in the alien’s authorized employment that complies with the
requirements of paragraph (1), shall constitute a valid work authorization
document for a period of not more than 60 days beginning on the date on which
such petition is filed, after which time only a currently valid identification
and employment eligibility document shall be acceptable.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="ID2CA96AE3A5EF4DB9A41324D3ACAD8BC7"><enum>(5)</enum><header>Limitation on
an individual’s stay in status</header>
<subparagraph id="ID721C8FA8E51D4A588214BC471500404B"><enum>(A)</enum><header>Maximum
period</header><text>The maximum continuous period of authorized status as an
H–2A worker (including any extensions) is 3 years.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="ID7ECB83084C10443B8DAEC102C7ADA51F"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Requirement to
remain outside the united states</header>
<clause id="ID37F30288A86E461188F724703876BBA8"><enum>(i)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>Subject to clause (ii), in the case of an alien outside
the United States whose period of authorized status as an H–2A worker
(including any extensions) has expired, the alien may not again apply for
admission to the United States as an H–2A worker unless the alien has remained
outside the United States for a continuous period equal to at least
<fraction>1/5</fraction> the duration of the alien’s previous period of
authorized status as an H–2A worker (including any extensions).</text>
</clause><clause id="ID027ED6CC5DDB4013A5547A188A0790C8"><enum>(ii)</enum><header>Exception</header><text>Clause
(i) shall not apply in the case of an alien if the alien’s period of authorized
status as an H–2A worker (including any extensions) was for a period of not
more than 10 months and such alien has been outside the United States for at
least 2 months during the 12 months preceding the date the alien again is
applying for admission to the United States as an H–2A worker.</text>
</clause></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="IDBADFE02C58AB4EB791412C5F143AF0E0"><enum>(i)</enum><header>Special Rules
for Aliens Employed as Sheepherders, Goat Herders, or Dairy
Workers</header><text>Notwithstanding any provision of the Agricultural Job
Opportunities, Benefits, and Security Act of 2007, an alien admitted under
section 101(a)(15)(H)(ii)(a) for employment as a sheepherder, goat herder, or
dairy worker—</text>
<paragraph id="IDBFB791EBC9DF426D9A638DDE8D627C2B"><enum>(1)</enum><text>may be admitted
for an initial period of 12 months;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="IDFB560815F98E4B0DB07F8839DEEE97D1"><enum>(2)</enum><text>subject to
subsection (j)(5), may have such initial period of admission extended for a
period of up to 3 years; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="ID20D75EECD81C4F568A9E5212D9B07DD6"><enum>(3)</enum><text>shall not be
subject to the requirements of subsection (h)(5) (relating to periods of
absence from the United States).</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="IDC4407AD20A004224A4EE02B52CAA998F"><enum>(j)</enum><header>Adjustment to
Lawful Permanent Resident Status for Aliens Employed as Sheepherders, Goat
Herders, or Dairy Workers</header>
<paragraph id="IDD01914598E984D2FB89194AC1C75D176"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Eligible
alien</header><text>For purposes of this subsection, the term <term>eligible
alien</term> means an alien—</text>
<subparagraph id="IDD2FD93ED905F4375B034828499919930"><enum>(A)</enum><text>having
nonimmigrant status under section 101(a)(15)(H)(ii)(a) based on employment as a
sheepherder, goat herder, or dairy worker;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="IDB86476429EA8485BAF2E8ACAE8161534"><enum>(B)</enum><text>who has
maintained such nonimmigrant status in the United States for a cumulative total
of 36 months (excluding any period of absence from the United States);
and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="IDB86016267FC94471B2FACDB0F0DD39D0"><enum>(C)</enum><text>who is seeking to
receive an immigrant visa under section 203(b)(3)(A)(iii).</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="IDE765631652BB4091858174F51075D567"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Classification
petition</header><text>In the case of an eligible alien, the petition under
section 204 for classification under section 203(b)(3)(A)(iii) may be filed
by—</text>
<subparagraph id="ID2E0958192FB14D4E9E5341AD35876CBE"><enum>(A)</enum><text>the alien’s
employer on behalf of the eligible alien; or</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="ID2F3A62893D6441B8851DBFDA9499B33E"><enum>(B)</enum><text>the eligible
alien.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="ID07AADC2FA7E94554AE91F068270BE9E7"><enum>(3)</enum><header>No labor
certification required</header><text>Notwithstanding section 203(b)(3)(C), no
determination under section 212(a)(5)(A) is required with respect to an
immigrant visa described in paragraph (1)(C) for an eligible alien.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="IDBB26A5E1A19445EF8371A1B45FEB250A"><enum>(4)</enum><header>Effect of
petition</header><text>The filing of a petition described in paragraph (2) or
an application for adjustment of status based on the approval of such a
petition shall not constitute evidence of an alien’s ineligibility for
nonimmigrant status under section 101(a)(15)(H)(ii)(a).</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="ID971759E40BA64681B5A94A7E40FB255F"><enum>(5)</enum><header>Extension of
stay</header><text>The Secretary shall extend the stay of an eligible alien
having a pending or approved classification petition described in paragraph (2)
in 1-year increments until a final determination is made on the alien’s
eligibility for adjustment of status to that of an alien lawfully admitted for
permanent residence.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="ID948E2DEA002B4AE5A97395408F08D320"><enum>(6)</enum><header>Construction</header><text>Nothing
in this subsection shall be construed to prevent an eligible alien from seeking
adjustment of status in accordance with any other provision of law.</text>
</paragraph></subsection></section><section id="ID1052F3F590D74E3791828D955BFBFDEF"><enum>218C.</enum><header>Worker
protections and labor standards enforcement</header>
<subsection id="IDE57A9DFFF6D740E597110990120D80D7"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Enforcement
Authority</header>
<paragraph id="IDA014AB39D21C4305A34C75E86D1088E8"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Investigation
of complaints</header>
<subparagraph id="ID10A1DBA23E8140AF98B3DEBAE59D19D9"><enum>(A)</enum><header>Aggrieved
person or third-party complaints</header><text>The Secretary of Labor shall
establish a process for the receipt, investigation, and disposition of
complaints respecting a petitioner’s failure to meet a condition specified in
section 218(b), or an employer’s misrepresentation of material facts in an
application under section 218(a). Complaints may be filed by any aggrieved
person or organization (including bargaining representatives). No investigation
or hearing shall be conducted on a complaint concerning such a failure or
misrepresentation unless the complaint was filed not later than 12 months after
the date of the failure, or misrepresentation, respectively. The Secretary of
Labor shall conduct an investigation under this subparagraph if there is
reasonable cause to believe that such a failure or misrepresentation has
occurred.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="ID8EC72C7EA9184BCE8F24523B709C3B2B"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Determination
on complaint</header><text>Under such process, the Secretary of Labor shall
provide, within 30 days after the date such a complaint is filed, for a
determination as to whether or not a reasonable basis exists to make a finding
described in subparagraph (C), (D), (E), or (G). If the Secretary of Labor
determines that such a reasonable basis exists, the Secretary of Labor shall
provide for notice of such determination to the interested parties and an
opportunity for a hearing on the complaint, in accordance with section 556 of
title 5, United States Code, within 60 days after the date of the
determination. If such a hearing is requested, the Secretary of Labor shall
make a finding concerning the matter not later than 60 days after the date of
the hearing. In the case of similar complaints respecting the same applicant,
the Secretary of Labor may consolidate the hearings under this subparagraph on
such complaints.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="IDFDEC698C1C1A4D88BA7F6CCA9846CAC7"><enum>(C)</enum><header>Failures to
meet conditions</header><text>If the Secretary of Labor finds, after notice and
opportunity for a hearing, a failure to meet a condition of paragraph (1)(A),
(1)(B), (1)(D), (1)(F), (2)(A), (2)(B), or (2)(G) of section 218(b), a
substantial failure to meet a condition of paragraph (1)(C), (1)(E), (2)(C),
(2)(D), (2)(E), or (2)(H) of section 218(b), or a material misrepresentation of
fact in an application under section 218(a)—</text>
<clause id="ID426789FA58AD43288E47ABD7CBD039F7"><enum>(i)</enum><text>the Secretary of
Labor shall notify the Secretary of such finding and may, in addition, impose
such other administrative remedies (including civil money penalties in an
amount not to exceed $1,000 per violation) as the Secretary of Labor determines
to be appropriate; and</text>
</clause><clause id="ID3665E93A7D7E4184A1B0C1BA5D5C763A"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>the Secretary
may disqualify the employer from the employment of aliens described in section
101(a)(15)(H)(ii)(a) for a period of 1 year.</text>
</clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="ID5769771F152F47FDB9B0DFD847723299"><enum>(D)</enum><header>Willful
failures and willful misrepresentations</header><text>If the Secretary of Labor
finds, after notice and opportunity for hearing, a willful failure to meet a
condition of section 218(b), a willful misrepresentation of a material fact in
an application under section 218(a), or a violation of subsection
(d)(1)—</text>
<clause id="ID100D5E815438444EB1C66565DEB90A0A"><enum>(i)</enum><text>the Secretary of
Labor shall notify the Secretary of such finding and may, in addition, impose
such other administrative remedies (including civil money penalties in an
amount not to exceed $5,000 per violation) as the Secretary of Labor determines
to be appropriate;</text>
</clause><clause id="ID4B00BE79D79645E2BC7E05D954B4AD9D"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>the Secretary of
Labor may seek appropriate legal or equitable relief to effectuate the purposes
of subsection (d)(1); and</text>
</clause><clause id="IDDD915CE70EDF47CBA45187CCA843D29F"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>the Secretary
may disqualify the employer from the employment of H–2A workers for a period of
2 years.</text>
</clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="IDAB02CC016515447CBF73DA3EBD8986A0"><enum>(E)</enum><header>Displacement of
United States workers</header><text>If the Secretary of Labor finds, after
notice and opportunity for hearing, a willful failure to meet a condition of
section 218(b) or a willful misrepresentation of a material fact in an
application under section 218(a), in the course of which failure or
misrepresentation the employer displaced a United States worker employed by the
employer during the period of employment on the employer’s application under
section 218(a) or during the period of 30 days preceding such period of
employment—</text>
<clause id="ID22DF2E438F604322A165321885D790E5"><enum>(i)</enum><text>the Secretary of
Labor shall notify the Secretary of such finding and may, in addition, impose
such other administrative remedies (including civil money penalties in an
amount not to exceed $15,000 per violation) as the Secretary of Labor
determines to be appropriate; and</text>
</clause><clause id="IDC17E4D6BBC8446598E1F8949EE75E50B"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>the Secretary
may disqualify the employer from the employment of H–2A workers for a period of
3 years.</text>
</clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="IDDFF43D2D038649BC9CA25D02CD29B9E4"><enum>(F)</enum><header>Limitations on
civil money penalties</header><text>The Secretary of Labor shall not impose
total civil money penalties with respect to an application under section 218(a)
in excess of $90,000.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="IDCBACA541EC054398945423CFEDB1AC87"><enum>(G)</enum><header>Failures to pay
wages or required benefits</header><text>If the Secretary of Labor finds, after
notice and opportunity for a hearing, that the employer has failed to pay the
wages, or provide the housing allowance, transportation, subsistence
reimbursement, or guarantee of employment, required under section 218A(b), the
Secretary of Labor shall assess payment of back wages, or other required
benefits, due any United States worker or H–2A worker employed by the employer
in the specific employment in question. The back wages or other required
benefits under section 218A(b) shall be equal to the difference between the
amount that should have been paid and the amount that actually was paid to such
worker.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="ID99E067AE84114887A8A29CC6EEA78B59"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Statutory
construction</header><text>Nothing in this section shall be construed as
limiting the authority of the Secretary of Labor to conduct any compliance
investigation under any other labor law, including any law affecting migrant
and seasonal agricultural workers, or, in the absence of a complaint under this
section, under section 218 or 218A.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="IDD130FAADE70F4E95961C84AA0D88970D"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Rights
Enforceable by Private Right of Action</header><text>H–2A workers may enforce
the following rights through the private right of action provided in subsection
(c), and no other right of action shall exist under Federal or State law to
enforce such rights:</text>
<paragraph id="ID83A042A9F866405E92ECAC124B36E9B8"><enum>(1)</enum><text>The providing of
housing or a housing allowance as required under section 218A(b)(1).</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="ID0FF0D6649D714378AAA830BAC886C93D"><enum>(2)</enum><text>The reimbursement
of transportation as required under section 218A(b)(2).</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="ID4326A70DE2FD41EB90ABF09209EDE2CD"><enum>(3)</enum><text>The payment of
wages required under section 218A(b)(3) when due.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="ID2AA51A9DA0594C49ADF52FE5B742F957"><enum>(4)</enum><text>The benefits and
material terms and conditions of employment expressly provided in the job offer
described in section 218(a)(2), not including the assurance to comply with
other Federal, State, and local labor laws described in section 218A(c),
compliance with which shall be governed by the provisions of such laws.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="ID486B7C31CAB5450AABC8FF75B1F0A375"><enum>(5)</enum><text>The guarantee of
employment required under section 218A(b)(4).</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="ID15C5D21B1D7C4ED0968EB37B0D51B5B2"><enum>(6)</enum><text>The motor vehicle
safety requirements under section 218A(b)(5).</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="ID2BD5C7E1884143DB9253918F09B96A7A"><enum>(7)</enum><text>The prohibition
of discrimination under subsection (d)(2).</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="ID2871956EA2BD4D79BB4E096442C8FF89"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Private Right
of Action</header>
<paragraph id="ID64DBCADFBACE4F95A03DF967766419FC"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Mediation</header><text>Upon
the filing of a complaint by an H–2A worker aggrieved by a violation of rights
enforceable under subsection (b), and within 60 days of the filing of proof of
service of the complaint, a party to the action may file a request with the
Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service to assist the parties in reaching a
satisfactory resolution of all issues involving all parties to the dispute.
Upon a filing of such request and giving of notice to the parties, the parties
shall attempt mediation within the period specified in subparagraph (B).</text>
<subparagraph id="ID843B7AC770B24928A8816A3DFAEDF427"><enum>(A)</enum><header>Mediation
services</header><text>The Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service shall be
available to assist in resolving disputes arising under subsection (b) between
H–2A workers and agricultural employers without charge to the parties.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="ID41A5619B6E954CD7B781A6B284322EF9"><enum>(B)</enum><header>90-day
limit</header><text>The Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service may conduct
mediation or other nonbinding dispute resolution activities for a period not to
exceed 90 days beginning on the date on which the Federal Mediation and
Conciliation Service receives the request for assistance unless the parties
agree to an extension of this period of time.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="IDFE40B424F91C465A8B2B9D143FBEC344"><enum>(C)</enum><header>Authorization</header>
<clause id="IDD2BE46560F2344A4BFD9322D1F880EBF"><enum>(i)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>Subject to clause (ii), there are authorized to be
appropriated to the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service $500,000 for
each fiscal year to carry out this section.</text>
</clause><clause id="ID1147165D4AA04175B2020A195899CEC0"><enum>(ii)</enum><header>Mediation</header><text>Notwithstanding
any other provision of law, the Director of the Federal Mediation and
Conciliation Service is authorized to conduct the mediation or other dispute
resolution activities from any other appropriated funds available to the
Director and to reimburse such appropriated funds when the funds are
appropriated pursuant to this authorization, such reimbursement to be credited
to appropriations currently available at the time of receipt.</text>
</clause></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="ID38E484758815474FB6C472077041BF53"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Maintenance of
civil action in district court by aggrieved person</header><text>An H–2A worker
aggrieved by a violation of rights enforceable under subsection (b) by an
agricultural employer or other person may file suit in any district court of
the United States having jurisdiction over the parties, without regard to the
amount in controversy, without regard to the citizenship of the parties, and
without regard to the exhaustion of any alternative administrative remedies
under this Act, not later than 3 years after the date the violation
occurs.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="ID4E2F500DC7F4420E82588A0CADB357EB"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Election</header><text>An
H–2A worker who has filed an administrative complaint with the Secretary of
Labor may not maintain a civil action under paragraph (2) unless a complaint
based on the same violation filed with the Secretary of Labor under subsection
(a)(1) is withdrawn before the filing of such action, in which case the rights
and remedies available under this subsection shall be exclusive.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="ID93AA6029E61D457C8D53A6798626CB3E"><enum>(4)</enum><header>Preemption of
state contract rights</header><text>Nothing in this Act shall be construed to
diminish the rights and remedies of an H–2A worker under any other Federal or
State law or regulation or under any collective bargaining agreement, except
that no court or administrative action shall be available under any State
contract law to enforce the rights created by this Act.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="IDDF90FF91CC06465B9FD81238F067F81D"><enum>(5)</enum><header>Waiver of
rights prohibited</header><text>Agreements by employees purporting to waive or
modify their rights under this Act shall be void as contrary to public policy,
except that a waiver or modification of the rights or obligations in favor of
the Secretary of Labor shall be valid for purposes of the enforcement of this
Act. The preceding sentence may not be construed to prohibit agreements to
settle private disputes or litigation.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="IDD4821B83A5654F2C8C41E08B7B793A10"><enum>(6)</enum><header>Award of
damages or other equitable relief</header>
<subparagraph id="ID77B912E175A644439F93742EBB499E88"><enum>(A)</enum><text>If the court
finds that the respondent has intentionally violated any of the rights
enforceable under subsection (b), it shall award actual damages, if any, or
equitable relief.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="IDD78797F53169444AB0E0DBB9599BCE76"><enum>(B)</enum><text>Any civil action
brought under this section shall be subject to appeal as provided in chapter 83
of title 28, United States Code.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="ID89551712EDB74770B2FF84AEE0AB688B"><enum>(7)</enum><header>Workers’
compensation benefits; exclusive remedy</header>
<subparagraph id="ID6F9283FA205B4B8A9E41705AB5C9C843"><enum>(A)</enum><text>Notwithstanding
any other provision of this section, where a State’s workers’ compensation law
is applicable and coverage is provided for an H–2A worker, the workers’
compensation benefits shall be the exclusive remedy for the loss of such worker
under this section in the case of bodily injury or death in accordance with
such State’s workers’ compensation law.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="ID9DF66C58FFBA4CB085FAA4FE9B9A0356"><enum>(B)</enum><text>The exclusive
remedy prescribed in subparagraph (A) precludes the recovery under paragraph
(6) of actual damages for loss from an injury or death but does not preclude
other equitable relief, except that such relief shall not include back or front
pay or in any manner, directly or indirectly, expand or otherwise alter or
affect—</text>
<clause id="ID112A58E5AE1A4F06B3F32A664BC57323"><enum>(i)</enum><text>a
recovery under a State workers’ compensation law; or</text>
</clause><clause id="ID3796657CED584D6D9B7924A4C45FCA98"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>rights conferred
under a State workers’ compensation law.</text>
</clause></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="ID8354F8F0E4C74E10BDDFF6DE7ABF118D"><enum>(8)</enum><header>Tolling of
statute of limitations</header><text>If it is determined under a State workers’
compensation law that the workers’ compensation law is not applicable to a
claim for bodily injury or death of an H–2A worker, the statute of limitations
for bringing an action for actual damages for such injury or death under
subsection (c) shall be tolled for the period during which the claim for such
injury or death under such State workers’ compensation law was pending. The
statute of limitations for an action for actual damages or other equitable
relief arising out of the same transaction or occurrence as the injury or death
of the H–2A worker shall be tolled for the period during which the claim for
such injury or death was pending under the State workers’ compensation
law.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="IDADB4587AF4894085BA4539A460E0AE0B"><enum>(9)</enum><header>Preclusive
effect</header><text>Any settlement by an H–2A worker and an H–2A employer or
any person reached through the mediation process required under subsection
(c)(1) shall preclude any right of action arising out of the same facts between
the parties in any Federal or State court or administrative proceeding, unless
specifically provided otherwise in the settlement agreement.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="ID1AC02A85EE984D81BBEFAFE709FC5D32"><enum>(10)</enum><header>Settlements</header><text>Any
settlement by the Secretary of Labor with an H–2A employer on behalf of an H–2A
worker of a complaint filed with the Secretary of Labor under this section or
any finding by the Secretary of Labor under subsection (a)(1)(B) shall preclude
any right of action arising out of the same facts between the parties under any
Federal or State court or administrative proceeding, unless specifically
provided otherwise in the settlement agreement.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="IDCBDAC96D0A994A3E92851DB5BD65A51F"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Discrimination
Prohibited</header>
<paragraph id="ID03E402650BD240469DDE8A40F103585E"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>It is a violation of this subsection for any person who
has filed an application under section 218(a), to intimidate, threaten,
restrain, coerce, blacklist, discharge, or in any other manner discriminate
against an employee (which term, for purposes of this subsection, includes a
former employee and an applicant for employment) because the employee has
disclosed information to the employer, or to any other person, that the
employee reasonably believes evidences a violation of section 218 or 218A or
any rule or regulation pertaining to section 218 or 218A, or because the
employee cooperates or seeks to cooperate in an investigation or other
proceeding concerning the employer’s compliance with the requirements of
section 218 or 218A or any rule or regulation pertaining to either of such
sections.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="IDE1293150B92F4322974279EC3F1F4A4F"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Discrimination
against h–2a workers</header><text>It is a violation of this subsection for any
person who has filed an application under section 218(a), to intimidate,
threaten, restrain, coerce, blacklist, discharge, or in any manner discriminate
against an H–2A employee because such worker has, with just cause, filed a
complaint with the Secretary of Labor regarding a denial of the rights
enumerated and enforceable under subsection (b) or instituted, or caused to be
instituted, a private right of action under subsection (c) regarding the denial
of the rights enumerated under subsection (b), or has testified or is about to
testify in any court proceeding brought under subsection (c).</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="IDF3544CC7F121485796E42D2BA146037E"><enum>(e)</enum><header>Authorization
To Seek Other Appropriate Employment</header><text>The Secretary of Labor and
the Secretary shall establish a process under which an H–2A worker who files a
complaint regarding a violation of subsection (d) and is otherwise eligible to
remain and work in the United States may be allowed to seek other appropriate
employment in the United States for a period not to exceed the maximum period
of stay authorized for such nonimmigrant classification.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="IDE22A256749A9402395BC17BBB8BAFEDB"><enum>(f)</enum><header>Role of
Associations</header>
<paragraph id="ID1FE8F14E2A194EACAE002D2D6570FD1A"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Violation by a
member of an association</header><text>An employer on whose behalf an
application is filed by an association acting as its agent is fully responsible
for such application, and for complying with the terms and conditions of
sections 218 and 218A, as though the employer had filed the application itself.
If such an employer is determined, under this section, to have committed a
violation, the penalty for such violation shall apply only to that member of
the association unless the Secretary of Labor determines that the association
or other member participated in, had knowledge, or reason to know, of the
violation, in which case the penalty shall be invoked against the association
or other association member as well.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="ID0C12B84E9D2448998AD0CC3AF6E9FF63"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Violations by
an association acting as an employer</header><text>If an association filing an
application as a sole or joint employer is determined to have committed a
violation under this section, the penalty for such violation shall apply only
to the association unless the Secretary of Labor determines that an association
member or members participated in or had knowledge, or reason to know of the
violation, in which case the penalty shall be invoked against the association
member or members as well.</text>
</paragraph></subsection></section><section id="ID0ECD3BACFDC6484AB6101230AC54D041"><enum>218D.</enum><header>Definitions</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">For purposes of this section and section
218, 218A, 218B, and 218C:</text>
<paragraph id="id6C2EE96C1D9C400FB12E84522D71287E"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Agricultural
employment</header><text>The term <term>agricultural employment</term> means
any service or activity that is considered to be agricultural under section
3(f) of the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 (29 U.S.C. 203(f)) or agricultural
labor under section 3121(g) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 or the
performance of agricultural labor or services described in section
101(a)(15)(H)(ii)(a).</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="IDF97630B1632049EFB2D2B7C18367FDCC"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Bona fide
union</header><text>The term <term>bona fide union</term> means any
organization in which employees participate and which exists for the purpose of
dealing with employers concerning grievances, labor disputes, wages, rates of
pay, hours of employment, or other terms and conditions of work for
agricultural employees. Such term does not include an organization formed,
created, administered, supported, dominated, financed, or controlled by an
employer or employer association or its agents or representatives.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="ID95C38C06FC364FDD995B5362104C03BC"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Displace</header><text>The
term <term>displace</term>, in the case of an application with respect to 1 or
more H–2A workers by an employer, means laying off a United States worker from
a job for which the H–2A worker or workers is or are sought.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="IDA83BC71430E847E0A5A1F82552B7A045"><enum>(4)</enum><header>Eligible</header><text>The
term <term>eligible</term>, when used with respect to an individual, means an
individual who is not an unauthorized alien (as defined in section
274A).</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="ID6E01E74BF19A4393AF4454DF5E2B6A99"><enum>(5)</enum><header>Employer</header><text>The
term <term>employer</term> means any person or entity, including any farm labor
contractor and any agricultural association, that employs workers in
agricultural employment.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="ID5DFF4C7C2E494095A851148622A93254"><enum>(6)</enum><header>H–2A
employer</header><text>The term <term>H–2A employer</term> means an employer
who seeks to hire 1 or more nonimmigrant aliens described in section
101(a)(15)(H)(ii)(a).</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="ID545DAE97616F4DF890D7CEE78FDC4932"><enum>(7)</enum><header>H–2A
worker</header><text>The term <term>H–2A worker</term> means a nonimmigrant
described in section 101(a)(15)(H)(ii)(a).</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="IDD8A30C00724C47F186C8160BCD8B0F85"><enum>(8)</enum><header>Job
opportunity</header><text>The term <term>job opportunity</term> means a job
opening for temporary or seasonal full-time employment at a place in the United
States to which United States workers can be referred.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="ID1CAF3294A3EB4C55B60130898BF7E465"><enum>(9)</enum><header>Laying
off</header>
<subparagraph id="ID2802A018B5CB4CE3952887D8A1797B06"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>The term <term>laying off</term>, with respect to a
worker—</text>
<clause id="ID63B26CF4D15A4B4D89096390A00975AE"><enum>(i)</enum><text>means to cause
the worker’s loss of employment, other than through a discharge for inadequate
performance, violation of workplace rules, cause, voluntary departure,
voluntary retirement, contract impossibility (as described in section
218A(b)(4)(D)), or temporary suspension of employment due to weather, markets,
or other temporary conditions; but</text>
</clause><clause id="IDF0C9A5348A914CBD8A6C043158B7B83A"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>does not include
any situation in which the worker is offered, as an alternative to such loss of
employment, a similar employment opportunity with the same employer (or, in the
case of a placement of a worker with another employer under section
218(b)(2)(E), with either employer described in such section) at equivalent or
higher compensation and benefits than the position from which the employee was
discharged, regardless of whether or not the employee accepts the offer.</text>
</clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="ID4C6DC38960DC49C1BAC0C1E7406264F2"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Statutory
construction</header><text>Nothing in this paragraph is intended to limit an
employee’s rights under a collective bargaining agreement or other employment
contract.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="ID5B9A3199E6AE497DBE805D01215D426B"><enum>(10)</enum><header>Regulatory
drought</header><text>The term <term>regulatory drought</term> means a decision
subsequent to the filing of the application under section 218 by an entity not
under the control of the employer making such filing which restricts the
employer’s access to water for irrigation purposes and reduces or limits the
employer’s ability to produce an agricultural commodity, thereby reducing the
need for labor.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="IDDF97CF79E59B43B79C6B5E3E389B2B8F"><enum>(11)</enum><header>Seasonal</header><text>Labor
is performed on a <quote>seasonal</quote> basis if—</text>
<subparagraph id="IDFD1CFA66CD964AE5B333574A9D93DDD1"><enum>(A)</enum><text>ordinarily, it
pertains to or is of the kind exclusively performed at certain seasons or
periods of the year; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="ID93837B1CD8534EF1855D184FA13D3924"><enum>(B)</enum><text>from its nature,
it may not be continuous or carried on throughout the year.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="ID54451F3BA27A49C6B62434692F401C7B"><enum>(12)</enum><header>Secretary</header><text>Except
as otherwise provided, the term <term>Secretary</term> means the Secretary of
Homeland Security.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="ID7967EEB44E7B4603A9ACDE96EA19D737"><enum>(13)</enum><header>Temporary</header><text>A
worker is employed on a <quote>temporary</quote> basis where the employment is
intended not to exceed 10 months.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="ID034E424F10F64590961874F65C4CD5DC"><enum>(14)</enum><header>United States
worker</header><text>The term <term>United States worker</term> means any
worker, whether a national of the United States, an alien lawfully admitted for
permanent residence, or any other alien, who is authorized to work in the job
opportunity within the United States, except an alien admitted or otherwise
provided status under section
101(a)(15)(H)(ii)(a).</text>
</paragraph></section><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</subsection><subsection id="ID43F6A9AB686E4779A69A6FE250A64A00"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Table of
Contents</header><text>The table of contents of the Immigration and Nationality
Act (8 U.S.C. 1101 et seq.) is amended by striking the item relating to section
218 and inserting the following:</text>
<quoted-block id="ID2842A08E32BE4402B62C6CC70ABB2DE0" style="OLC">
<toc regeneration="no-regeneration">
<toc-entry level="section">Sec. 218. H–2A employer
applications.</toc-entry>
<toc-entry level="section">Sec. 218A. H–2A employment
requirements.</toc-entry>
<toc-entry level="section">Sec. 218B. Procedure for admission and
extension of stay of H–2A workers.</toc-entry>
<toc-entry level="section">Sec. 218C. Worker protections and labor
standards enforcement.</toc-entry>
<toc-entry level="section">Sec. 218D.
Definitions.</toc-entry>
</toc>
<after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</subsection></section><enum>III</enum><header>MISCELLANEOUS
PROVISIONS</header>
<section id="IDEB17B34AA5B840D897580E3832CF11B0"><enum>301.</enum><header>Determination
and use of user fees</header>
<subsection id="ID35B22C4535C548FA97967E32FC486520"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Schedule of
Fees</header><text>The Secretary shall establish and periodically adjust a
schedule of fees for the employment of aliens pursuant to the amendment made by
section 201(a) of this Act and a collection process for such fees from
employers. Such fees shall be the only fees chargeable to employers for
services provided under such amendment.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="ID7EF49997280E46DCAD451251A4A88105"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Determination
of Schedule</header>
<paragraph id="ID732D56A50A034B6B92576D1186EEA52B"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>The schedule under subsection (a) shall reflect a fee
rate based on the number of job opportunities indicated in the employer’s
application under section 218 of the <act-name parsable-cite="INA">Immigration
and Nationality Act</act-name>, as amended by section 201 of this Act, and
sufficient to provide for the direct costs of providing services related to an
employer’s authorization to employ aliens pursuant to the amendment made by
section 201(a) of this Act, to include the certification of eligible employers,
the issuance of documentation, and the admission of eligible aliens.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="ID64308A211B0747F9BA52D3DEA2C9933F"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Procedure</header>
<subparagraph id="ID952A9C7A5C55405EBCA9A8A5947DC2B8"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>In establishing and adjusting such a schedule, the
Secretary shall comply with Federal cost accounting and fee setting
standards.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="IDD300015A5D0E4E47B864B86F1364A1B2"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Publication and
comment</header><text>The Secretary shall publish in the Federal Register an
initial fee schedule and associated collection process and the cost data or
estimates upon which such fee schedule is based, and any subsequent amendments
thereto, pursuant to which public comment shall be sought and a final rule
issued.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="IDD6D803496DCB410184C41AA41A8D4698"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Use of
Proceeds</header><text>Notwithstanding any other provision of law, all proceeds
resulting from the payment of the fees pursuant to the amendment made by
section 201(a) of this Act shall be available without further appropriation and
shall remain available without fiscal year limitation to reimburse the
Secretary, the Secretary of State, and the Secretary of Labor for the costs of
carrying out sections 218 and 218B of the <act-name parsable-cite="INA">Immigration and Nationality Act</act-name>, as amended and
added, respectively, by section 201 of this Act, and the provisions of this
Act.</text>
</subsection></section><section id="ID30E5AB0DE9F149B2BAC7DB58C42520BF"><enum>302.</enum><header>Regulations</header>
<subsection id="IDF1778FE7CC0C4F1497B5A37CC958FD65"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Requirement for
the Secretary To consult</header><text>The Secretary shall consult with the
Secretary of Labor and the Secretary of Agriculture during the promulgation of
all regulations to implement the duties of the Secretary under this Act and the
amendments made by this Act.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="ID56CE569761A5466DBA3F737CEC337CFE"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Requirement for
the Secretary of State To consult</header><text>The Secretary of State shall
consult with the Secretary, the Secretary of Labor, and the Secretary of
Agriculture on all regulations to implement the duties of the Secretary of
State under this Act and the amendments made by this Act.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="IDE1D01FF495E54C28935AF3CD05BB9449"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Requirement for
the Secretary of Labor To consult</header><text>The Secretary of Labor shall
consult with the Secretary of Agriculture and the Secretary on all regulations
to implement the duties of the Secretary of Labor under this Act and the
amendments made by this Act.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="ID796EC67984E74F7095F9A629E4958697"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Deadline for
Issuance of Regulations</header><text>All regulations to implement the duties
of the Secretary, the Secretary of State, and the Secretary of Labor created
under sections 218, 218A, 218B, 218C, and 218D of the
<act-name parsable-cite="INA">Immigration and Nationality Act</act-name>, as
amended or added by section 201 of this Act, shall take effect on the effective
date of section 201 and shall be issued not later than 1 year after the date of
enactment of this Act.</text>
</subsection></section><section id="IDA36BA76A72F844E5BDD1E95E037359BF"><enum>303.</enum><header>Reports to
Congress</header>
<subsection id="idA0D4FE65EE2C47BAB1BAB6BDAEFE5C12"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Annual
report</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Not later than
September 30 of each year, the Secretary shall submit a report to Congress that
identifies, for the previous year—</text>
<paragraph id="ID50CBC29762A3418EA917F56386896857"><enum>(1)</enum><text>the number of job
opportunities approved for employment of aliens admitted under section
101(a)(15)(H)(ii)(a) of the <act-name parsable-cite="INA">Immigration and
Nationality Act</act-name> (8 U.S.C. 1101(a)(15)(H)(ii)(a)), and the number of
workers actually admitted, disaggregated by State and by occupation;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="ID27A0E9023C404F528DACCBECCD110909"><enum>(2)</enum><text>the number of
such aliens reported to have abandoned employment pursuant to subsection
218B(e)(2) of such Act;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="ID1DC5AF32E731414C8F800CF1881DE169"><enum>(3)</enum><text>the number of
such aliens who departed the United States within the period specified in
subsection 218B(d) of such Act;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="ID4A31932BCCA64808B74B300E21948FB9"><enum>(4)</enum><text>the number of
aliens who applied for adjustment of status pursuant to section 101(a);</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="ID56FA1719EB534083B56DE768A6728856"><enum>(5)</enum><text>the number of
such aliens whose status was adjusted under section 101(a);</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="ID8EFE850F2772454F85FFCE65F6F6FA3B"><enum>(6)</enum><text>the number of
aliens who applied for permanent residence pursuant to section 103(c);
and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="IDE76B803FB74046B39DE152550507B274"><enum>(7)</enum><text>the number of
such aliens who were approved for permanent residence pursuant section
103(c).</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="IDACE41C6CA01648229722555E27CAE8C4"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Implementation
Report</header><text>Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of
this Act, the Secretary shall prepare and submit to Congress a report that
describes the measures being taken and the progress made in implementing this
Act.</text>
</subsection></section><section id="ID06F1254584C74931BD179D20B22A6CDE"><enum>304.</enum><header>Effective
date</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Except as otherwise
provided, sections 201 and 301 shall take effect 1 year after the date of the
enactment of this Act.</text>
</section>