AgJOBS in the 111th Congress

The Issue

Addressing undocumented immigration in the agricultural sector is critical, as this is an industry largely serviced by undocumented workers (from 50 to 75 percent of the workforce is undocumented).  Some employers have taken advantage of workers who lack immigration status—paying them substandard wages and subjecting them to terrible working conditions.  Other employers—farmers from New York to California—don’t want to see their best workers taken away from them.  They want a stable workforce.  Farmers and farm workers have come together to in support of a solution to the vulnerable state of our agricultural workforce.

The Legislation

Agricultural Job Opportunities, Benefits, and Security Act (AgJOBS)

• S. 1038, introduced in the Senate by Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) and 16 other Senators. (List of co-sponsors)
• H.R. 2414, introduced in the House by Representative Howard Berman (D-CA) and 26 other Representatives. (List of co-sponsors.)

Status

The legislation was introduced on May 14, 2009.

For More Information

• Fact Sheet: Facts About Farmworkers, Immigration Policy Center, May 2009
• Summary: Summary of AgJOBS: The Agricultural Job Opportunities, Benefits and Security Act, Farmworker Justice, May 2009. Also available in Spanish.

Links to more information about AgJOBS

• Farmworker Justice – AgJOBS & Immigration Legislation
• United Farm Workers

ACTION

Send a letter to your Representative and Senators asking them to co-sponsor the AgJOBS.  You can find a sample letter to change or send here.