{"id":652,"date":"2011-10-05T13:58:53","date_gmt":"2011-10-05T17:58:53","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/live-immigrationreform.pantheonsite.io\/?p=652"},"modified":"2016-02-23T13:49:26","modified_gmt":"2016-02-23T18:49:26","slug":"fair-testifies-before-senate-committee-regarding-farm-labor","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.immigrationreform.com\/2011\/10\/05\/fair-testifies-before-senate-committee-regarding-farm-labor\/","title":{"rendered":"FAIR Testifies Before Senate Committee Regarding Farm Labor"},"content":{"rendered":"
Yesterday, I testified before the Senate Subcommittee on Immigration, and Refugees<\/a>. Here<\/a> is my written testimony, and the video of the testimony is here<\/a>. While I am appreciative of the opportunity to present my case to the Senators, it was disheartening to hear all the other witnesses declare without equivocation that Americans, all Americans, are unwilling to work as farm laborers, in spite of the fact that government data shows that around 30 percent of hired farm laborers are U.S. citizens.<\/p>\n According to Georgia\u2019s Commissioner of Agriculture, lobbyists for agribusiness, and a representative of the United Farm Workers (UFW) the reasons why Americans will not take farm jobs is because they are lazy, out of shape, inflexible in their work habits, addicted to drugs or alcohol, dependent on welfare, and physically unsuited for working outdoors in summer heat. Mr. Arturo Rodriquez, speaking on behalf of the UFW testified that Americans are not skilled enough to prune plants and even incapable of picking crops without damaging them.<\/p>\n I was the only witness to argue the point that if agricultural employees paid a living wage to their workers, more Americans would be willing to take farm jobs. I also told the Senators that the effectiveness of H-2A program, or any other temporary guest worker program, cannot be accurately assessed as long as agricultural employers can continue to hire workers illegally. I did agree that criticisms by farmers that the H-2A program is too bureaucratic and time-consuming should be addressed by Congress. FAIR\u2019s intent is to see the H-2A program used properly and in the most effective manner by employers.<\/p>\n