CQ Today: ‘AgJobs’ Bill May Not Wait for Broader Immigration Measure

"A bipartisan group of senators claimed today to have the votes necessary to pass stand-alone legislation allowing more foreign agricultural workers to come to the United States.

"They said they would prefer to move their 'AgJobs' measure as part of a broader immigration overhaul. But they are not prepared to wait indefinitely.

"Much of the draft measure, cosponsored by Democratic Sens. Dianne Feinstein and Barbara Boxer of California; Edward M. Kennedy, D-Mass., Larry E. Craig, R-Idaho, and Mel Martinez, R-Fla., was included in last year’s Senate immigration overhaul.

"That measure stalled when the House refused to consider provisions that would have allowed millions of illegal immigrants to earn citizenship over a period of years.

"The draft farm jobs measure would allow more than 1.5 million workers to come into the United States over the next five years. It also would create a pilot program to legalize illegal immigrants who have been working in agriculture during the past two years."

(CQ Today Midday Update, JAN. 10, 2007)


From Immigration Legislation Introduced in the House:

H.R. 371 - Rep. Howard Berman [D-CA]
To improve agricultural job opportunities, benefits, and security for aliens in the United States, and for other purposes.