02/19/08 Proposed guest-worker rules don't negate need for immigration reform

Washington Ag February 19, 2008 Dan Fazio of the Washington State Farm Bureau says they have nothing but praise for the Bush Administration for their leadership on the seasonal labor and immigration issue. He is referring to the administration's recently proposed regulatory changes to the H-2A guest-worker program. Even so Fazio says that in the long run agriculture still needs Congress to tackle immigration reform to ensure an adequate labor supply. Something lawmakers failed at last year. Fazio: "I don't think the H-2A program is ever going to be a program a program where we can obtain on the migrant, seasonal workers we need. We are going to need comprehensive immigration reform. We are going to need to fix the problem." Meanwhile more and more specialty crop producers are turning to the H-2A guest-worker program to try and fulfill their labor needs. Fazio calls the proposed regulatory changes to the program dramatic, however; Fazio: "There seem to be an equal number of worker protections and making it easier for the farmer." Those proposed rules would be the first changes in the H-2A program in 20 years. They are currently in a period of public comment. Fazio hopes they will be adopted this fall and would then be in place for 2009. I'm Bob Hoff.