Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/45659
New Technology & Labor immigration." The big business-big city mayor coalition, The Partnership for a New American Econ- omy, represented by none other than Rupert Mur- doch, Michael Bloomberg, and J.W. Marriott, struck just the right tone, as they called for Congress to pass laws that will "Make it harder to immigrate illegally and easier to immigrate legally." While agriculture favors a comprehensive solution, "The best way to reduce illegal immigration is for the government to provide wider avenues for legal immigration." —The Wall Street Journal we are forced to deal with political reality and take measures to protect our interests against "enforcement- only" bills. Comprehensive immigration reform is not in play, but an E-Verify bill (H.R.2885) was passed out of committee in late September and was under considera- tion as this column was being written. Mandatory E-Ver- ify without a new and better agricultural guest worker program will result in the export of U.S. farm production and U.S. jobs. That sounds ominous—only because it is. The House Judiciary Committee must thoroughly exam- ine agriculture's needs and pass a solution to prevent the decimation of the agricultural work force by mandatory E-Verify. H-2A is inflexible Proposed solutions for agricultural employers include H.R.2847, the American Specialty Agriculture Act, which would substantially reform the existing H-2A program; and H.R. 2995, the Legal Agricultural Work- force Act, which is a more flexible and market-oriented program, not based on the existing H-2A structure. Some of the proposed H- 2A reforms would be ben- eficial for current program users. However, the H-2A program structure is too inflexible and bureau- cratic to meet the needs of the entire industry. An in-depth research project by the National Council of Agricultural Employers has exposed the flaws of the program and should be read by all grow- ers. A summary of an NCAE survey of program users can be found at www.ncaeonline.org/ files/ALRP2011_brochure.pdf. The Agriculture Coalition for Immigration Reform summarized the needs of the agriculture industry well: "A true solution to the problem at hand will provide work authorization for the experienced farm labor force, visas of adequate length to meet the diverse needs of agriculture, and a workable program for the future. With such reforms, agriculture will be in a position to fully support phased-in implementation of E-Verify." The need is clear, and the solutions are apparent. Agriculture needs its existing work force legalized as a bridge to a new, long-term guest-worker program. It is better to include such changes within a comprehensive bill so that enforcement, E-Verify, legalization, and guest worker programs are changed together, in balance. Until then, agriculture must work to ensure that a standalone E-Verify bill includes guest-worker solutions that will work well for our large and diverse industry. • PRODUCTION SAFETY Vineyard & Orchard Production & Processing… Industrial Safety, Fire Protection and PPE Products, Farmworker Protective Spray Clothing, Sanitation and Processing Equipment, Industrial and Specialized Gases. Serving all of the Inland Northwestern Agricultural Industries PASCO: 509-547-2494 Call your local OXARC® sales representative today! YAKIMA: 509-248-0827 MOSES LAKE: 509-765-9247 WENATCHEE: 509-662-8417 OKANOGAN: 509-826-3205 WALLA WALLA: 509-529-3060 www.goodfruit.com GOOD FRUIT GROWER NOVEMBER 2011 27