[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 10 (Thursday, January 17, 2019)]
[Senate]
[Pages S294-S295]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mrs. FEINSTEIN (for herself, Ms. Harris, Mr. Leahy, Mr. 
        Bennet, Ms. Hirono, Mr. Blumenthal, Mr. Booker, Mrs. 
        Gillibrand, Mr. Wyden, Mr. Merkley, Mr. Udall, and Mr. 
        Sanders):
  S. 175. A bill to improve agricultural job opportunities, benefits, 
and security for aliens in the United States, and for other purposes; 
to the Committee on the Judiciary.
  Mrs. FEINSTEIN. Mr. President, I rise today to reintroduce 
legislation that would shield farmworkers from deportation and put them 
on a path to earned legal status and eventual citizenship.
  By protecting farmworkers from deportation, this bill would achieve 
two goals: ensuring that hardworking immigrants don't live in fear and 
that California's agriculture industry has the workforce it needs to 
survive.
  Under the Agricultural Worker Program Act, farmworkers who have 
worked in agriculture for at least 100 days in each of the past 2 years 
may earn lawful ``blue card'' status. Farmworkers who maintain blue 
card status for the next 3 or 5 years, depending on the total hours 
worked in agriculture, would be eligible to adjust to a green card or 
legal permanent residency. This would provide them with a path to 
citizenship.
  Everywhere I travel in California, I hear from farmers, growers and 
producers from all industries--wine, citrus, fruit and tree nuts, 
dairy--that there aren't enough workers. Farm labor is performed almost 
exclusively by immigrants--fact that should surprise no one. In fact, 
over 90 percent of California's crop workers are immigrants, and half 
are unauthorized.
  Despite their significant contributions to California's economy and 
communities, farmworkers are now a priority for deportation under this 
administration's shameful policies. We simply must protect the families 
who help put food on our tables. By providing a path to citizenship for 
these workers and their families, the Agricultural Worker Program Act 
will preserve our agricultural system. This bill will also protect 
vulnerable workers who should not have to live in fear of becoming easy 
enforcement targets.
  It is time to get started on solutions for agricultural communities 
across the country. Law-abiding workers should not have to fear 
deportation, but should have a path to citizenship that recognizes 
their enormous contribution to American prosperity and society. 
Employers should not have to fear that their labor force will be unable 
to return to work as a result of deportation. The Agricultural Worker 
Program Act provides the security and stability for our farmworkers 
that is necessary to keep the industry strong.
  I would like to thank Representative Lofgren in the House for working 
with me to introduce this legislation today in both chambers. I invite 
my colleagues in the Senate to join me in cosponsoring the bill and 
preventing the deportation of those who work so hard to put food on our 
tables.

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