Guestworker Visa Reform Bill Pt 1

Guestworker Visa Reform Bill Pt 1

Bob Larson
Bob Larson
With today's Fruit Grower Report, I'm Bob Larson. A House bill that would give a much-needed update to the nation's Agriculture guestworker program is one step closer to reality. Virginia Representative Bob Goodlatte introduced the American Guestworker Act recently which would create an H-2C visa program, that would replace the H-2A program, and which has been referred to the House Judiciary Committee.

Representative Dan Newhouse has worked on the measure and says ag labor is crucial to our state ...

DAN NEWHOUSE ... "This bill will take us to a much better place. It has a lot of good things, a lot of things to like about it and I'm anxious to be able to get it out in public and let the agriculture community and others certainly, be able to see it and get reaction from people. I really am appreciative of Mr. Goodlatte's work on this and hopefully this will be the vehicle that will can use to get some much-needed reform in immigration."

Newhouse says the bill would benefit non-seasonal workers and employers ...

DAN NEWHOUSE ... "To the extent that I understand it at this point, the new category of H-2C would apply to more permanent work such as dairies versus temporary like apple or fruit or hops or whatever. So, dairy, some of the processing activities, things that require year-long employment."

Newhouse says the bill would undoubtedly help with the labor shortage experienced by growers across the country and in Washington state.

Listen tomorrow for more on the progress of this bill and why it could help smooth out some immigration issues.

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