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[Congressional Bills 111th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 1038 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

111th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                S. 1038

 To improve agricultural job opportunities, benefits, and security for 
          aliens in the United States, and for other purposes.

_______________________________________________________________________

                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                              May 14, 2009

 Mrs. Feinstein (for herself, Mr. Leahy, Mr. Schumer, Mr. Kennedy, Mr. 
Kohl, Mrs. Boxer, Mr. Dodd, Mr. Lieberman, Mr. Bingaman, Mr. Feingold, 
Mrs. Murray, Mr. Kerry, Mr. Nelson of Florida, Mr. Kaufman, Mr. Casey, 
 Ms. Cantwell, and Mr. Levin) introduced the following bill; which was 
       read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL

 
 To improve agricultural job opportunities, benefits, and security for 
          aliens in the United States, and for other purposes.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE, TABLE OF CONTENTS.

    (a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``Agricultural Job 
Opportunities, Benefits, and Security Act of 2009'' or the ``AgJOBS Act 
of 2009''.
    (b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents for this Act is as 
follows:

Sec. 1. Short title, table of contents.
Sec. 2. Definitions.
  TITLE I--PILOT PROGRAM FOR EARNED STATUS ADJUSTMENT OF AGRICULTURAL 
                                WORKERS

                      Subtitle A--Blue Card Status

Sec. 101. Requirements for blue card status.
Sec. 102. Treatment of aliens granted blue card status.
Sec. 103. Adjustment to permanent residence.
Sec. 104. Applications.
Sec. 105. Waiver of numerical limitations and certain grounds for 
                            inadmissibility.
Sec. 106. Administrative and judicial review.
Sec. 107. Use of information.
Sec. 108. Regulations, effective date, authorization of appropriations.
           Subtitle B--Correction of Social Security Records

Sec. 111. Correction of Social Security records.
                TITLE II--REFORM OF H-2A WORKER PROGRAM

Sec. 201. Amendments to the Immigration and Nationality Act.
                  TITLE III--MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS

Sec. 301. Determination and use of user fees.
Sec. 302. Regulations.
Sec. 303. Reports to Congress.
Sec. 304. Effective date.

SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.

    In this Act:
            (1) Agricultural employment.--The term ``agricultural 
        employment'' means any service or activity that is considered 
        to be agricultural under section 3(f) of the Fair Labor 
        Standards Act of 1938 (29 U.S.C. 203(f)) or agricultural labor 
        under section 3121(g) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 or 
        the performance of agricultural labor or services described in 
        section 101(a)(15)(H)(ii)(a) of the Immigration and Nationality 
        Act (8 U.S.C. 1101(a)(15)(H)(ii)(a)).
            (2) Blue card status.--The term ``blue card status'' means 
        the status of an alien who has been lawfully admitted into the 
        United States for temporary residence under section 101(a).
            (3) Department.--The term ``Department'' means the 
        Department of Homeland Security.
            (4) Employer.--The term ``employer'' means any person or 
        entity, including any farm labor contractor and any 
        agricultural association, that employs workers in agricultural 
        employment.
            (5) Secretary.--Except as otherwise provided, the term 
        ``Secretary'' means the Secretary of Homeland Security.
            (6) Work day.--The term ``work day'' means any day in which 
        the individual is employed 5.75 or more hours in agricultural 
        employment.

  TITLE I--PILOT PROGRAM FOR EARNED STATUS ADJUSTMENT OF AGRICULTURAL 
                                WORKERS

                      Subtitle A--Blue Card Status

SEC. 101. REQUIREMENTS FOR BLUE CARD STATUS.

    (a) Requirement To Grant Blue Card Status.--Notwithstanding any 
other provision of law, the Secretary shall, pursuant to the 
requirements of this section, grant blue card status to an alien who 
qualifies under this section if the Secretary determines that the 
alien--
            (1) has performed agricultural employment in the United 
        States for at least 863 hours or 150 work days during the 24-
        month period ending on December 31, 2008;
            (2) applied for such status during the 18-month application 
        period beginning on the first day of the seventh month that 
        begins after the date of enactment of this Act;
            (3) is otherwise admissible to the United States under 
        section 212 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 
        1182), except as otherwise provided under section 105(b); and
            (4) has not been convicted of any felony or a misdemeanor, 
        an element of which involves bodily injury, threat of serious 
        bodily injury, or harm to property in excess of $500.
    (b) Authorized Travel.--An alien who is granted blue card status is 
authorized to travel outside the United States (including commuting to 
the United States from a residence in a foreign country) in the same 
manner as an alien lawfully admitted for permanent residence.
    (c) Authorized Employment.--The Secretary shall provide an alien 
who is granted blue card status an employment authorized endorsement or 
other appropriate work permit, in the same manner as an alien lawfully 
admitted for permanent residence.
    (d) Termination of Blue Card Status.--
            (1) Deportable aliens.--The Secretary shall terminate blue 
        card status granted to an alien if the Secretary determines 
        that the alien is deportable.
            (2) Other grounds for termination.--The Secretary shall 
        terminate blue card status granted to an alien if--
                    (A) the Secretary finds, by a preponderance of the 
                evidence, that the adjustment to blue card status was 
                the result of fraud or willful misrepresentation, as 
                described in section 212(a)(6)(C)(i) of the Immigration 
                and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1182(a)(6)(C)(i)); or
                    (B) the alien--
                            (i) commits an act that makes the alien 
                        inadmissible to the United States under section 
                        212 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 
                        U.S.C. 1182), except as provided under section 
                        105(b);
                            (ii) is convicted of a felony or 3 or more 
                        misdemeanors committed in the United States;
                            (iii) is convicted of an offense, an 
                        element of which involves bodily injury, threat 
                        of serious bodily injury, or harm to property 
                        in excess of $500; or
                            (iv) fails to perform the agricultural 
                        employment required under paragraph (1)(A) of 
                        section 103(a) unless the alien was unable to 
                        work in agricultural employment due to the 
                        extraordinary circumstances described in 
                        paragraph (3) of such section.
    (e) Record of Employment.--
            (1) In general.--Each employer of an alien granted blue 
        card status shall annually--
                    (A) provide a written record of employment to the 
                alien; and
                    (B) provide a copy of such record to the Secretary.
            (2) Civil penalties.--
                    (A) In general.--If the Secretary finds, after 
                notice and opportunity for a hearing, that an employer 
                of an alien granted blue card status has failed to 
                provide the record of employment required under 
                paragraph (1) or has provided a false statement of 
                material fact in such a record, the employer shall be 
                subject to a civil penalty in an amount not to exceed 
                $1,000 per violation.
                    (B) Limitation.--The penalty applicable under 
                subparagraph (A) for failure to provide records shall 
                not apply unless the alien has provided the employer 
                with evidence of employment authorization granted under 
                this section.
            (3) Sunset.--The obligation under paragraph (1) shall 
        terminate on the date that is 6 years after the date of the 
        enactment of this Act.
    (f) Required Features of Identity Card.--The Secretary shall 
provide each alien granted blue card status, and the spouse and any 
child of each such alien residing in the United States, with a card 
that contains--
            (1) an encrypted, machine-readable, electronic 
        identification strip that is unique to the alien to whom the 
        card is issued;
            (2) biometric identifiers, including fingerprints and a 
        digital photograph; and
            (3) physical security features designed to prevent 
        tampering, counterfeiting, or duplication of the card for 
        fraudulent purposes.
    (g) Fine.--An alien granted blue card status shall pay a fine of 
$100 to the Secretary.
    (h) Maximum Number.--The Secretary may not issue more than 
1,350,000 blue cards during the 5-year period beginning on the date of 
the enactment of this Act.

SEC. 102. TREATMENT OF ALIENS GRANTED BLUE CARD STATUS.

    (a) In General.--Except as otherwise provided under this section, 
an alien granted blue card status (including a spouse or child of the 
alien granted derivative status) shall be considered to be an alien 
lawfully admitted for permanent residence for purposes of any law other 
than any provision of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 
1101 et seq.).
    (b) Delayed Eligibility for Certain Federal Public Benefits.--
Except as otherwise provided in law, an alien granted blue card status 
(including a spouse or child of the alien granted derivative status) 
shall not be eligible, by reason of such status, for any form of 
assistance or benefit described in section 403(a) of the Personal 
Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 (8 
U.S.C. 1613(a)) until 5 years after the date on which the alien is 
granted an adjustment of status under section 103.

SEC. 103. ADJUSTMENT TO PERMANENT RESIDENCE.

    (a) In General.--Except as provided in subsection (b), the 
Secretary shall adjust the status of an alien granted blue card status 
to that of an alien lawfully admitted for permanent residence if the 
Secretary determines that the following requirements are satisfied:
            (1) Qualifying employment.--
                    (A) In general.--Subject to subparagraph (B), the 
                alien has performed at least--
                            (i) 5 years of agricultural employment in 
                        the United States for at least 100 work days 
                        per year, during the 5-year period beginning on 
                        the date of the enactment of this Act; or
                            (ii) 3 years of agricultural employment in 
                        the United States for at least 150 work days 
                        per year, during the 3-year period beginning on 
                        the date of the enactment of this Act.
                    (B) 4-year period of employment.--An alien shall be 
                considered to meet the requirements of subparagraph (A) 
                if the alien has performed 4 years of agricultural 
                employment in the United States for at least 150 work 
                days during 3 years of those 4 years and at least 100 
                work days during the remaining year, during the 4-year 
                period beginning on the date of the enactment of this 
                Act.
            (2) Proof.--An alien may demonstrate compliance with the 
        requirement under paragraph (1) by submitting--
                    (A) the record of employment described in section 
                101(e); or
                    (B) documentation that may be submitted under 
                section 104(c).
            (3) Extraordinary circumstances.--
                    (A) In general.--In determining whether an alien 
                has met the requirement of paragraph (1)(A), the 
                Secretary may credit the alien with not more than 12 
                additional months of agricultural employment in the 
                United States to meet such requirement if the alien was 
                unable to work in agricultural employment due to--
                            (i) pregnancy, injury, or disease, if the 
                        alien can establish such pregnancy, disabling 
                        injury, or disease through medical records;
                            (ii) illness, disease, or other special 
                        needs of a minor child, if the alien can 
                        establish such illness, disease, or special 
                        needs through medical records;
                            (iii) severe weather conditions that 
                        prevented the alien from engaging in 
                        agricultural employment for a significant 
                        period of time; or
                            (iv) termination from agricultural 
                        employment, if the Secretary finds that the 
                        termination was without just cause and that the 
                        alien was unable to find alternative 
                        agricultural employment after a reasonable job 
                        search.
                    (B) Effect of finding.--A finding made under 
                subparagraph (A)(iv), with respect to an alien, shall 
                not--
                            (i) be conclusive, binding, or admissible 
                        in a separate or subsequent judicial or 
                        administrative action or proceeding between the 
                        alien and a current or prior employer of the 
                        alien or any other party; or
                            (ii) subject the alien's employer to the 
                        payment of attorney fees incurred by the alien 
                        in seeking to obtain a finding under 
                        subparagraph (A)(iv).
            (4) Application period.--The alien applies for adjustment 
        of status not later than 7 years after the date of the 
        enactment of this Act.
            (5) Fine.--The alien pays a fine of $400 to the Secretary.
    (b) Grounds for Denial of Adjustment of Status.--The Secretary 
shall deny an alien granted blue card status an adjustment of status 
under this section if--
            (1) the Secretary finds, by a preponderance of the 
        evidence, that the adjustment to blue card status was the 
        result of fraud or willful misrepresentation, as described in 
        section 212(a)(6)(C)(i) of the Immigration and Nationality Act 
        (8 U.S.C. 1182(a)(6)(C)(i)); or
            (2) the alien--
                    (A) commits an act that makes the alien 
                inadmissible to the United States under section 212 of 
                the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1182), 
                except as provided under section 105(b);
                    (B) is convicted of a felony or 3 or more 
                misdemeanors committed in the United States;
                    (C) is convicted of an offense, an element of which 
                involves bodily injury, threat of serious bodily 
                injury, or harm to property in excess of $500; or
                    (D) failed to perform the agricultural employment 
                required under paragraph (1)(A) of subsection (a) 
                unless the alien was unable to work in agricultural 
                employment due to the extraordinary circumstances 
                described in paragraph (3) of such subsection.
    (c) Grounds for Removal.--Any alien granted blue card status who 
does not apply for adjustment of status under this section before the 
expiration of the application period described in subsection (a)(4) or 
who fails to meet the other requirements of subsection (a) by the end 
of the application period, is deportable and may be removed under 
section 240 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1229a).
    (d) Payment of Taxes.--
            (1) In general.--Not later than the date on which an 
        alien's status is adjusted under this section, the alien shall 
        establish that the alien does not owe any applicable Federal 
        tax liability by establishing that--
                    (A) no such tax liability exists;
                    (B) all such outstanding tax liabilities have been 
                paid; or
                    (C) the alien has entered into an agreement for 
                payment of all outstanding liabilities with the 
                Internal Revenue Service.
            (2) Applicable federal tax liability.--In paragraph (1) the 
        term ``applicable Federal tax liability'' means liability for 
        Federal taxes, including penalties and interest, owed for any 
        year during the period of employment required under subsection 
        (a)(1) for which the statutory period for assessment of any 
        deficiency for such taxes has not expired.
            (3) IRS cooperation.--The Secretary of the Treasury shall 
        establish rules and procedures under which the Commissioner of 
        Internal Revenue shall provide documentation to an alien upon 
        request to establish the payment of all taxes required by this 
        subsection.
    (e) Spouses and Minor Children.--
            (1) In general.--Notwithstanding any other provision of 
        law, the Secretary shall confer the status of lawful permanent 
        resident on the spouse and minor child of an alien granted any 
        adjustment of status under subsection (a), including any 
        individual who was a minor child on the date such alien was 
        granted blue card status, if the spouse or minor child applies 
        for such status, or if the principal alien includes the spouse 
        or minor child in an application for adjustment of status to 
        that of a lawful permanent resident.
            (2) Treatment of spouses and minor children.--
                    (A) Granting of status and removal.--The Secretary 
                shall grant derivative status to the alien spouse and 
                any minor child residing in the United States of an 
                alien granted blue card status and shall not remove 
                such derivative spouse or child during the period that 
                the alien granted blue card status maintains such 
                status, except as provided in paragraph (3). A grant of 
                derivative status to such a spouse or child under this 
                subparagraph shall not decrease the number of aliens 
                who may receive blue card status under subsection (h) 
                of section 101.
                    (B) Travel.--The derivative spouse and any minor 
                child of an alien granted blue card status may travel 
                outside the United States in the same manner as an 
                alien lawfully admitted for permanent residence.
                    (C) Employment.--The derivative spouse of an alien 
                granted blue card status may apply to the Secretary for 
                a work permit to authorize such spouse to engage in any 
                lawful employment in the United States while such alien 
                maintains blue card status.
            (3) Grounds for denial of adjustment of status and 
        removal.--The Secretary shall deny an alien spouse or child 
        adjustment of status under paragraph (1) and may remove such 
        spouse or child under section 240 of the Immigration and 
        Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1229a) if the spouse or child--
                    (A) commits an act that makes the alien spouse or 
                child inadmissible to the United States under section 
                212 of such Act (8 U.S.C. 1182), except as provided 
                under section 105(b);
                    (B) is convicted of a felony or 3 or more 
                misdemeanors committed in the United States; or
                    (C) is convicted of an offense, an element of which 
                involves bodily injury, threat of serious bodily 
                injury, or harm to property in excess of $500.

SEC. 104. APPLICATIONS.

    (a) Submission.--The Secretary shall provide that--
            (1) applications for blue card status may be submitted--
                    (A) to the Secretary if the applicant is 
                represented by an attorney or a nonprofit religious, 
                charitable, social service, or similar organization 
                recognized by the Board of Immigration Appeals under 
                section 292.2 of title 8, Code of Federal Regulations; 
                or
                    (B) to a qualified designated entity if the 
                applicant consents to the forwarding of the application 
                to the Secretary; and
            (2) applications for adjustment of status under section 103 
        shall be filed directly with the Secretary.
    (b) Qualified Designated Entity Defined.--In this section, the term 
``qualified designated entity'' means--
            (1) a qualified farm labor organization or an association 
        of employers designated by the Secretary; or
            (2) any such other person designated by the Secretary if 
        that Secretary determines such person is qualified and has 
        substantial experience, demonstrated competence, and has a 
        history of long-term involvement in the preparation and 
        submission of applications for adjustment of status under 
        section 209, 210, or 245 of the Immigration and Nationality Act 
        (8 U.S.C. 1159, 1160, and 1255), the Act entitled ``An Act to 
        adjust the status of Cuban refugees to that of lawful permanent 
        residents of the United States, and for other purposes'', 
        approved November 2, 1966 (Public Law 89-732; 8 U.S.C. 1255 
        note), Public Law 95-145 (8 U.S.C. 1255 note), or the 
        Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986 (Public Law 99-603; 
        100 Stat. 3359) or any amendment made by that Act.
    (c) Proof of Eligibility.--
            (1) In general.--An alien may establish that the alien 
        meets the requirement of section 101(a)(1) or 103(a)(1) through 
        government employment records or records supplied by employers 
        or collective bargaining organizations, and other reliable 
        documentation as the alien may provide. The Secretary shall 
        establish special procedures to properly credit work in cases 
        in which an alien was employed under an assumed name.
            (2) Documentation of work history.--
                    (A) Burden of proof.--An alien applying for status 
                under section 101(a) or 103(a) has the burden of 
                proving by a preponderance of the evidence that the 
                alien has worked the requisite number of hours or days 
                required under section 101(a)(1) or 103(a)(1), as 
                applicable.
                    (B) Timely production of records.--If an employer 
                or farm labor contractor employing such an alien has 
                kept proper and adequate records respecting such 
                employment, the alien's burden of proof under 
                subparagraph (A) may be met by securing timely 
                production of those records under regulations to be 
                promulgated by the Secretary.
                    (C) Sufficient evidence.--An alien may meet the 
                burden of proof under subparagraph (A) to establish 
                that the alien has performed the days or hours of work 
                required by section 101(a)(1) or 103(a)(1) by producing 
                sufficient evidence to show the extent of that 
                employment as a matter of just and reasonable 
                inference.
    (d) Applications Submitted to Qualified Designated Entities.--
            (1) Requirements.--Each qualified designated entity shall 
        agree--
                    (A) to forward to the Secretary an application 
                submitted to that entity pursuant to subsection 
                (a)(1)(B) if the applicant has consented to such 
                forwarding;
                    (B) not to forward to the Secretary any such 
                application if the applicant has not consented to such 
                forwarding; and
                    (C) to assist an alien in obtaining documentation 
                of the alien's work history, if the alien requests such 
                assistance.
            (2) No authority to make determinations.--No qualified 
        designated entity may make a determination required by this 
        subtitle to be made by the Secretary.
    (e) Limitation on Access to Information.--Files and records 
collected or compiled by a qualified designated entity for the purposes 
of this section are confidential and the Secretary shall not have 
access to such a file or record relating to an alien without the 
consent of the alien, except as allowed by a court order issued 
pursuant to subsection (f).
    (f) Confidentiality of Information.--
            (1) In general.--Except as otherwise provided in this 
        section, the Secretary or any other official or employee of the 
        Department or a bureau or agency of the Department is 
        prohibited from--
                    (A) using information furnished by the applicant 
                pursuant to an application filed under this title, the 
                information provided by an applicant to a qualified 
                designated entity, or any information provided by an 
                employer or former employer for any purpose other than 
                to make a determination on the application or for 
                imposing the penalties described in subsection (g);
                    (B) making any publication in which the information 
                furnished by any particular individual can be 
                identified; or
                    (C) permitting a person other than a sworn officer 
                or employee of the Department or a bureau or agency of 
                the Department or, with respect to applications filed 
                with a qualified designated entity, that qualified 
                designated entity, to examine individual applications.
            (2) Required disclosures.--The Secretary shall provide the 
        information furnished under this title or any other information 
        derived from such furnished information to--
                    (A) a duly recognized law enforcement entity in 
                connection with a criminal investigation or 
                prosecution, if such information is requested in 
                writing by such entity; or
                    (B) an official coroner, for purposes of 
                affirmatively identifying a deceased individual, 
                whether or not the death of such individual resulted 
                from a crime.
            (3) Construction.--
                    (A) In general.--Nothing in this subsection shall 
                be construed to limit the use, or release, for 
                immigration enforcement purposes or law enforcement 
                purposes, of information contained in files or records 
                of the Department pertaining to an application filed 
                under this section, other than information furnished by 
                an applicant pursuant to the application, or any other 
                information derived from the application, that is not 
                available from any other source.
                    (B) Criminal convictions.--Notwithstanding any 
                other provision of this subsection, information 
                concerning whether the alien applying for blue card 
                status or an adjustment of status under section 103 has 
                been convicted of a crime at any time may be used or 
                released for immigration enforcement or law enforcement 
                purposes.
            (4) Crime.--Any person who knowingly uses, publishes, or 
        permits information to be examined in violation of this 
        subsection shall be subject to a fine in an amount not to 
        exceed $10,000.
    (g) Penalties for False Statements in Applications.--
            (1) Criminal penalty.--Any person who--
                    (A) files an application for blue card status or an 
                adjustment of status under section 103 and knowingly 
                and willfully falsifies, conceals, or covers up a 
                material fact or makes any false, fictitious, or 
                fraudulent statements or representations, or makes or 
                uses any false writing or document knowing the same to 
                contain any false, fictitious, or fraudulent statement 
                or entry; or
                    (B) creates or supplies a false writing or document 
                for use in making such an application,
        shall be fined in accordance with title 18, United States Code, 
        imprisoned not more than 5 years, or both.
            (2) Inadmissibility.--An alien who is convicted of a crime 
        under paragraph (1) shall be considered to be inadmissible to 
        the United States on the ground described in section 
        212(a)(6)(C)(i) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 
        U.S.C. 1182(a)(6)(C)(i)).
    (h) Eligibility for Legal Services.--Section 504(a)(11) of Public 
Law 104-134 (110 Stat. 1321-53 et seq.) shall not be construed to 
prevent a recipient of funds under the Legal Services Corporation Act 
(42 U.S.C. 2996 et seq.) from providing legal assistance directly 
related to an application for blue card status or an adjustment of 
status under section 103.
    (i) Application Fees.--
            (1) Fee schedule.--The Secretary shall provide for a 
        schedule of fees that--
                    (A) shall be charged for the filing of an 
                application for blue card status or for an adjustment 
                of status under section 103; and
                    (B) may be charged by qualified designated entities 
                to help defray the costs of services provided to such 
                applicants.
            (2) Prohibition on excess fees by qualified designated 
        entities.--A qualified designated entity may not charge any fee 
        in excess of, or in addition to, the fees authorized under 
        paragraph (1)(B) for services provided to applicants.
            (3) Disposition of fees.--
                    (A) In general.--There is established in the 
                general fund of the Treasury a separate account, which 
                shall be known as the ``Agricultural Worker Immigration 
                Status Adjustment Account''. Notwithstanding any other 
                provision of law, there shall be deposited as 
                offsetting receipts into the account all fees collected 
                under paragraph (1)(A).
                    (B) Use of fees for application processing.--
                Amounts deposited in the ``Agricultural Worker 
                Immigration Status Adjustment Account'' shall remain 
                available to the Secretary until expended for 
                processing applications for blue card status or an 
                adjustment of status under section 103.

SEC. 105. WAIVER OF NUMERICAL LIMITATIONS AND CERTAIN GROUNDS FOR 
              INADMISSIBILITY.

    (a) Numerical Limitations Do Not Apply.--The numerical limitations 
of sections 201 and 202 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 
U.S.C. 1151 and 1152) shall not apply to the adjustment of aliens to 
lawful permanent resident status under section 103.
    (b) Waiver of Certain Grounds of Inadmissibility.--In the 
determination of an alien's eligibility for status under section 101(a) 
or an alien's eligibility for adjustment of status under section 
103(b)(2)(A) the following rules shall apply:
            (1) Grounds of exclusion not applicable.--The provisions of 
        paragraphs (5), (6)(A), (7), and (9) of section 212(a) of the 
        Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1182(a)) shall not 
        apply.
            (2) Waiver of other grounds.--
                    (A) In general.--Except as provided in subparagraph 
                (B), the Secretary may waive any other provision of 
                such section 212(a) in the case of individual aliens 
                for humanitarian purposes, to ensure family unity, or 
                if otherwise in the public interest.
                    (B) Grounds that may not be waived.--Subparagraphs 
                (A), (B), (C), (D), (G), (H), and (I) of paragraph (2) 
                and paragraphs (3) and (4) of such section 212(a) may 
                not be waived by the Secretary under subparagraph (A).
                    (C) Construction.--Nothing in this paragraph shall 
                be construed as affecting the authority of the 
                Secretary other than under this subparagraph to waive 
                provisions of such section 212(a).
            (3) Special rule for determination of public charge.--An 
        alien is not ineligible for blue card status or an adjustment 
        of status under section 103 by reason of a ground of 
        inadmissibility under section 212(a)(4) of the Immigration and 
        Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1182(a)(4)) if the alien demonstrates 
        a history of employment in the United States evidencing self-
        support without reliance on public cash assistance.
    (c) Temporary Stay of Removal and Work Authorization for Certain 
Applicants.--
            (1) Before application period.--Effective on the date of 
        enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall provide that, in the 
        case of an alien who is apprehended before the beginning of the 
        application period described in section 101(a)(2) and who can 
        establish a nonfrivolous case of eligibility for blue card 
        status (but for the fact that the alien may not apply for such 
        status until the beginning of such period), until the alien has 
        had the opportunity during the first 30 days of the application 
        period to complete the filing of an application for blue card 
        status, the alien--
                    (A) may not be removed; and
                    (B) shall be granted authorization to engage in 
                employment in the United States and be provided an 
                employment authorized endorsement or other appropriate 
                work permit for such purpose.
            (2) During application period.--The Secretary shall provide 
        that, in the case of an alien who presents a nonfrivolous 
        application for blue card status during the application period 
        described in section 101(a)(2), including an alien who files 
        such an application within 30 days of the alien's apprehension, 
        and until a final determination on the application has been 
        made in accordance with this section, the alien--
                    (A) may not be removed; and
                    (B) shall be granted authorization to engage in 
                employment in the United States and be provided an 
                employment authorized endorsement or other appropriate 
                work permit for such purpose.

SEC. 106. ADMINISTRATIVE AND JUDICIAL REVIEW.

    (a) In General.--There shall be no administrative or judicial 
review of a determination respecting an application for blue card 
status or adjustment of status under section 103 except in accordance 
with this section.
    (b) Administrative Review.--
            (1) Single level of administrative appellate review.--The 
        Secretary shall establish an appellate authority to provide for 
        a single level of administrative appellate review of such a 
        determination.
            (2) Standard for review.--Such administrative appellate 
        review shall be based solely upon the administrative record 
        established at the time of the determination on the application 
        and upon such additional or newly discovered evidence as may 
        not have been available at the time of the determination.
    (c) Judicial Review.--
            (1) Limitation to review of removal.--There shall be 
        judicial review of such a determination only in the judicial 
        review of an order of removal under section 242 of the 
        Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1252).
            (2) Standard for judicial review.--Such judicial review 
        shall be based solely upon the administrative record 
        established at the time of the review by the appellate 
        authority and the findings of fact and determinations contained 
        in such record shall be conclusive unless the applicant can 
        establish abuse of discretion or that the findings are directly 
        contrary to clear and convincing facts contained in the record 
        considered as a whole.

SEC. 107. USE OF INFORMATION.

    Beginning not later than the first day of the application period 
described in section 101(a)(2), the Secretary, in cooperation with 
qualified designated entities (as that term is defined in section 
104(b)), shall broadly disseminate information respecting the benefits 
that aliens may receive under this subtitle and the requirements that 
an alien is required to meet to receive such benefits.

SEC. 108. REGULATIONS, EFFECTIVE DATE, AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    (a) Regulations.--The Secretary shall issue regulations to 
implement this subtitle not later than the first day of the seventh 
month that begins after the date of enactment of this Act.
    (b) Effective Date.--This subtitle shall take effect on the date 
that regulations required by subsection (a) are issued, regardless of 
whether such regulations are issued on an interim basis or on any other 
basis.
    (c) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated to the Secretary such sums as may be necessary to 
implement this subtitle, including any sums needed for costs associated 
with the initiation of such implementation, for fiscal years 2009 and 
2010.

           Subtitle B--Correction of Social Security Records

SEC. 111. CORRECTION OF SOCIAL SECURITY RECORDS.

    (a) In General.--Section 208(e)(1) of the Social Security Act (42 
U.S.C. 408(e)(1)) is amended--
            (1) in subparagraph (B)(ii), by striking ``or'' at the end;
            (2) in subparagraph (C), by inserting ``or'' at the end;
            (3) by inserting after subparagraph (C) the following:
            ``(D) who is granted blue card status under the 
        Agricultural Job Opportunities, Benefits, and Security Act of 
        2009''; and
            (4) by striking ``1990.'' and inserting ``1990, or in the 
        case of an alien described in subparagraph (D), if such conduct 
        is alleged to have occurred before the date on which the alien 
        was granted blue card status.''.
    (b) Effective Date.--The amendments made by subsection (a) shall 
take effect on the first day of the seventh month that begins after the 
date of the enactment of this Act.

                TITLE II--REFORM OF H-2A WORKER PROGRAM

SEC. 201. AMENDMENTS TO THE IMMIGRATION AND NATIONALITY ACT.

    (a) In General.--Title II of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 
U.S.C. 1151 et seq.) is amended by striking section 218 and inserting 
the following:

``SEC. 218. H-2A EMPLOYER APPLICATIONS.

    ``(a) Applications to the Secretary of Labor.--
            ``(1) In general.--No alien may be admitted to the United 
        States as an H-2A worker, or otherwise provided status as an H-
        2A worker, unless the employer has filed with the Secretary of 
        Labor an application containing--
                    ``(A) the assurances described in subsection (b);
                    ``(B) a description of the nature and location of 
                the work to be performed;
                    ``(C) the anticipated period (expected beginning 
                and ending dates) for which the workers will be needed; 
                and
                    ``(D) the number of job opportunities in which the 
                employer seeks to employ the workers.
            ``(2) Accompanied by job offer.--Each application filed 
        under paragraph (1) shall be accompanied by a copy of the job 
        offer describing the wages and other terms and conditions of 
        employment and the bona fide occupational qualifications that 
        shall be possessed by a worker to be employed in the job 
        opportunity in question.
    ``(b) Assurances for Inclusion in Applications.--The assurances 
referred to in subsection (a)(1) are the following:
            ``(1) Job opportunities covered by collective bargaining 
        agreements.--With respect to a job opportunity that is covered 
        under a collective bargaining agreement:
                    ``(A) Union contract described.--The job 
                opportunity is covered by a union contract which was 
                negotiated at arm's length between a bona fide union 
                and the employer.
                    ``(B) Strike or lockout.--The specific job 
                opportunity for which the employer is requesting an H-
                2A worker is not vacant because the former occupant is 
                on strike or being locked out in the course of a labor 
                dispute.
                    ``(C) Notification of bargaining representatives.--
                The employer, at the time of filing the application, 
                has provided notice of the filing under this paragraph 
                to the bargaining representative of the employer's 
                employees in the occupational classification at the 
                place or places of employment for which aliens are 
                sought.
                    ``(D) Temporary or seasonal job opportunities.--The 
                job opportunity is temporary or seasonal.
                    ``(E) Offers to united states workers.--The 
                employer has offered or will offer the job to any 
                eligible United States worker who applies and is 
                equally or better qualified for the job for which the 
                nonimmigrant is, or the nonimmigrants are, sought and 
                who will be available at the time and place of need.
                    ``(F) Provision of insurance.--If the job 
                opportunity is not covered by the State workers' 
                compensation law, the employer will provide, at no cost 
                to the worker, insurance covering injury and disease 
                arising out of, and in the course of, the worker's 
                employment which will provide benefits at least equal 
                to those provided under the State's workers' 
                compensation law for comparable employment.
            ``(2) Job opportunities not covered by collective 
        bargaining agreements.--With respect to a job opportunity that 
        is not covered under a collective bargaining agreement:
                    ``(A) Strike or lockout.--The specific job 
                opportunity for which the employer has applied for an 
                H-2A worker is not vacant because the former occupant 
                is on strike or being locked out in the course of a 
                labor dispute.
                    ``(B) Temporary or seasonal job opportunities.--The 
                job opportunity is temporary or seasonal.
                    ``(C) Benefit, wage, and working conditions.--The 
                employer will provide, at a minimum, the benefits, 
                wages, and working conditions required by section 218A 
                to all workers employed in the job opportunities for 
                which the employer has applied for an H-2A worker under 
                subsection (a) and to all other workers in the same 
                occupation at the place of employment.
                    ``(D) Nondisplacement of united states workers.--
                The employer did not displace and will not displace a 
                United States worker employed by the employer during 
                the period of employment and for a period of 30 days 
                preceding the period of employment in the occupation at 
                the place of employment for which the employer has 
                applied for an H-2A worker.
                    ``(E) Requirements for placement of the 
                nonimmigrant with other employers.--The employer will 
                not place the nonimmigrant with another employer 
                unless--
                            ``(i) the nonimmigrant performs duties in 
                        whole or in part at 1 or more worksites owned, 
                        operated, or controlled by such other employer;
                            ``(ii) there are indicia of an employment 
                        relationship between the nonimmigrant and such 
                        other employer; and
                            ``(iii) the employer has inquired of the 
                        other employer as to whether, and has no actual 
                        knowledge or notice that, during the period of 
                        employment and for a period of 30 days 
                        preceding the period of employment, the other 
                        employer has displaced or intends to displace a 
                        United States worker employed by the other 
                        employer in the occupation at the place of 
                        employment for which the employer seeks 
                        approval to employ H-2A workers.
                    ``(F) Statement of liability.--The application form 
                shall include a clear statement explaining the 
                liability under subparagraph (E) of an employer if the 
                other employer described in such subparagraph displaces 
                a United States worker as described in such 
                subparagraph.
                    ``(G) Provision of insurance.--If the job 
                opportunity is not covered by the State workers' 
                compensation law, the employer will provide, at no cost 
                to the worker, insurance covering injury and disease 
                arising out of and in the course of the worker's 
                employment which will provide benefits at least equal 
                to those provided under the State's workers' 
                compensation law for comparable employment.
                    ``(H) Employment of united states workers.--
                            ``(i) Recruitment.--The employer has taken 
                        or will take the following steps to recruit 
                        United States workers for the job opportunities 
                        for which the H-2A nonimmigrant is, or H-2A 
                        nonimmigrants are, sought:
                                    ``(I) Contacting former workers.--
                                The employer shall make reasonable 
                                efforts through the sending of a letter 
                                by United States Postal Service mail, 
                                or otherwise, to contact any United 
                                States worker the employer employed 
                                during the previous season in the 
                                occupation at the place of intended 
                                employment for which the employer is 
                                applying for workers and has made the 
                                availability of the employer's job 
                                opportunities in the occupation at the 
                                place of intended employment known to 
                                such previous workers, unless the 
                                worker was terminated from employment 
                                by the employer for a lawful job-
                                related reason or abandoned the job 
                                before the worker completed the period 
                                of employment of the job opportunity 
                                for which the worker was hired.
                                    ``(II) Filing a job offer with the 
                                local office of the state employment 
                                security agency.--Not later than 28 
                                days before the date on which the 
                                employer desires to employ an H-2A 
                                worker in a temporary or seasonal 
                                agricultural job opportunity, the 
                                employer shall submit a copy of the job 
                                offer described in subsection (a)(2) to 
                                the local office of the State 
                                employment security agency which serves 
                                the area of intended employment and 
                                authorize the posting of the job 
                                opportunity on `America's Job Bank' or 
                                other electronic job registry, except 
                                that nothing in this subclause shall 
                                require the employer to file an 
                                interstate job order under section 653 
                                of title 20, Code of Federal 
                                Regulations.
                                    ``(III) Advertising of job 
                                opportunities.--Not later than 14 days 
                                before the date on which the employer 
                                desires to employ an H-2A worker in a 
                                temporary or seasonal agricultural job 
                                opportunity, the employer shall 
                                advertise the availability of the job 
                                opportunities for which the employer is 
                                seeking workers in a publication in the 
                                local labor market that is likely to be 
                                patronized by potential farm workers.
                                    ``(IV) Emergency procedures.--The 
                                Secretary of Labor shall, by 
                                regulation, provide a procedure for 
                                acceptance and approval of applications 
                                in which the employer has not complied 
                                with the provisions of this 
                                subparagraph because the employer's 
                                need for H-2A workers could not 
                                reasonably have been foreseen.
                            ``(ii) Job offers.--The employer has 
                        offered or will offer the job to any eligible 
                        United States worker who applies and is equally 
                        or better qualified for the job for which the 
                        nonimmigrant is, or nonimmigrants are, sought 
                        and who will be available at the time and place 
                        of need.
                            ``(iii) Period of employment.--The employer 
                        will provide employment to any qualified United 
                        States worker who applies to the employer 
                        during the period beginning on the date on 
                        which the H-2A worker departs for the 
                        employer's place of employment and ending on 
                        the date on which 50 percent of the period of 
                        employment for which the H-2A worker who is in 
                        the job was hired has elapsed, subject to the 
                        following requirements:
                                    ``(I) Prohibition.--No person or 
                                entity shall willfully and knowingly 
                                withhold United States workers before 
                                the arrival of H-2A workers in order to 
                                force the hiring of United States 
                                workers under this clause.
                                    ``(II) Complaints.--Upon receipt of 
                                a complaint by an employer that a 
                                violation of subclause (I) has 
                                occurred, the Secretary of Labor shall 
                                immediately investigate. The Secretary 
                                of Labor shall, within 36 hours of the 
                                receipt of the complaint, issue 
                                findings concerning the alleged 
                                violation. If the Secretary of Labor 
                                finds that a violation has occurred, 
                                the Secretary of Labor shall 
                                immediately suspend the application of 
                                this clause with respect to that 
                                certification for that date of need.
                                    ``(III) Placement of united states 
                                workers.--Before referring a United 
                                States worker to an employer during the 
                                period described in the matter 
                                preceding subclause (I), the Secretary 
                                of Labor shall make all reasonable 
                                efforts to place the United States 
                                worker in an open job acceptable to the 
                                worker, if there are other job offers 
                                pending with the job service that offer 
                                similar job opportunities in the area 
                                of intended employment.
                            ``(iv) Statutory construction.--Nothing in 
                        this subparagraph shall be construed to 
                        prohibit an employer from using such legitimate 
                        selection criteria relevant to the type of job 
                        that are normal or customary to the type of job 
                        involved so long as such criteria are not 
                        applied in a discriminatory manner.
    ``(c) Applications by Associations on Behalf of Employer Members.--
            ``(1) In general.--An agricultural association may file an 
        application under subsection (a) on behalf of 1 or more of its 
        employer members that the association certifies in its 
        application has or have agreed in writing to comply with the 
        requirements of this section and sections 218A, 218B, and 218C.
            ``(2) Treatment of associations acting as employers.--If an 
        association filing an application under paragraph (1) is a 
        joint or sole employer of the temporary or seasonal 
        agricultural workers requested on the application, the 
        certifications granted under subsection (e)(2)(B) to the 
        association may be used for the certified job opportunities of 
        any of its producer members named on the application, and such 
        workers may be transferred among such producer members to 
        perform the agricultural services of a temporary or seasonal 
        nature for which the certifications were granted.
    ``(d) Withdrawal of Applications.--
            ``(1) In general.--An employer may withdraw an application 
        filed pursuant to subsection (a), except that if the employer 
        is an agricultural association, the association may withdraw an 
        application filed pursuant to subsection (a) with respect to 1 
        or more of its members. To withdraw an application, the 
        employer or association shall notify the Secretary of Labor in 
        writing, and the Secretary of Labor shall acknowledge in 
        writing the receipt of such withdrawal notice. An employer who 
        withdraws an application under subsection (a), or on whose 
        behalf an application is withdrawn, is relieved of the 
        obligations undertaken in the application.
            ``(2) Limitation.--An application may not be withdrawn 
        while any alien provided status under section 
        101(a)(15)(H)(ii)(a) pursuant to such application is employed 
        by the employer.
            ``(3) Obligations under other statutes.--Any obligation 
        incurred by an employer under any other law or regulation as a 
        result of the recruitment of United States workers or H-2A 
        workers under an offer of terms and conditions of employment 
        required as a result of making an application under subsection 
        (a) is unaffected by withdrawal of such application.
    ``(e) Review and Approval of Applications.--
            ``(1) Responsibility of employers.--The employer shall make 
        available for public examination, within 1 working day after 
        the date on which an application under subsection (a) is filed, 
        at the employer's principal place of business or worksite, a 
        copy of each such application (and such accompanying documents 
        as are necessary).
            ``(2) Responsibility of the secretary of labor.--
                    ``(A) Compilation of list.--The Secretary of Labor 
                shall compile, on a current basis, a list (by employer 
                and by occupational classification) of the applications 
                filed under subsection (a). Such list shall include the 
                wage rate, number of workers sought, period of intended 
                employment, and date of need. The Secretary of Labor 
                shall make such list available for examination in the 
                District of Columbia.
                    ``(B) Review of applications.--The Secretary of 
                Labor shall review such an application only for 
                completeness and obvious inaccuracies. Unless the 
                Secretary of Labor finds that the application is 
                incomplete or obviously inaccurate, the Secretary of 
                Labor shall certify that the intending employer has 
                filed with the Secretary of Labor an application as 
                described in subsection (a). Such certification shall 
                be provided within 7 days of the filing of the 
                application.''

``SEC. 218A. H-2A EMPLOYMENT REQUIREMENTS.

    ``(a) Preferential Treatment of Aliens Prohibited.--Employers 
seeking to hire United States workers shall offer the United States 
workers no less than the same benefits, wages, and working conditions 
that the employer is offering, intends to offer, or will provide to H-
2A workers. Conversely, no job offer may impose on United States 
workers any restrictions or obligations which will not be imposed on 
the employer's H-2A workers.
    ``(b) Minimum Benefits, Wages, and Working Conditions.--Except in 
cases where higher benefits, wages, or working conditions are required 
by the provisions of subsection (a), in order to protect similarly 
employed United States workers from adverse effects with respect to 
benefits, wages, and working conditions, every job offer which shall 
accompany an application under section 218(b)(2) shall include each of 
the following benefit, wage, and working condition provisions:
            ``(1) Requirement to provide housing or a housing 
        allowance.--
                    ``(A) In general.--An employer applying under 
                section 218(a) for H-2A workers shall offer to provide 
                housing at no cost to all workers in job opportunities 
                for which the employer has applied under that section 
                and to all other workers in the same occupation at the 
                place of employment, whose place of residence is beyond 
                normal commuting distance.
                    ``(B) Type of housing.--In complying with 
                subparagraph (A), an employer may, at the employer's 
                election, provide housing that meets applicable Federal 
                standards for temporary labor camps or secure housing 
                that meets applicable local standards for rental or 
                public accommodation housing or other substantially 
                similar class of habitation, or in the absence of 
                applicable local standards, State standards for rental 
                or public accommodation housing or other substantially 
                similar class of habitation. In the absence of 
                applicable local or State standards, Federal temporary 
                labor camp standards shall apply.
                    ``(C) Family housing.--If it is the prevailing 
                practice in the occupation and area of intended 
                employment to provide family housing, family housing 
                shall be provided to workers with families who request 
                it.
                    ``(D) Workers engaged in the range production of 
                livestock.--The Secretary of Labor shall issue 
                regulations that address the specific requirements for 
                the provision of housing to workers engaged in the 
                range production of livestock.
                    ``(E) Limitation.--Nothing in this paragraph shall 
                be construed to require an employer to provide or 
                secure housing for persons who were not entitled to 
                such housing under the temporary labor certification 
                regulations in effect on June 1, 1986.
                    ``(F) Charges for housing.--
                            ``(i) Charges for public housing.--If 
                        public housing provided for migrant 
                        agricultural workers under the auspices of a 
                        local, county, or State government is secured 
                        by an employer, and use of the public housing 
                        unit normally requires charges from migrant 
                        workers, such charges shall be paid by the 
                        employer directly to the appropriate individual 
                        or entity affiliated with the housing's 
                        management.
                            ``(ii) Deposit charges.--Charges in the 
                        form of deposits for bedding or other similar 
                        incidentals related to housing shall not be 
                        levied upon workers by employers who provide 
                        housing for their workers. An employer may 
                        require a worker found to have been responsible 
                        for damage to such housing which is not the 
                        result of normal wear and tear related to 
                        habitation to reimburse the employer for the 
                        reasonable cost of repair of such damage.
                    ``(G) Housing allowance as alternative.--
                            ``(i) In general.--If the requirement set 
                        out in clause (ii) is satisfied, the employer 
                        may provide a reasonable housing allowance 
                        instead of offering housing under subparagraph 
                        (A). Upon the request of a worker seeking 
                        assistance in locating housing, the employer 
                        shall make a good faith effort to assist the 
                        worker in identifying and locating housing in 
                        the area of intended employment. An employer 
                        who offers a housing allowance to a worker, or 
                        assists a worker in locating housing which the 
                        worker occupies, pursuant to this clause shall 
                        not be deemed a housing provider under section 
                        203 of the Migrant and Seasonal Agricultural 
                        Worker Protection Act (29 U.S.C. 1823) solely 
                        by virtue of providing such housing allowance. 
                        No housing allowance may be used for housing 
                        which is owned or controlled by the employer.
                            ``(ii) Certification.--The requirement of 
                        this clause is satisfied if the Governor of the 
                        State certifies to the Secretary of Labor that 
                        there is adequate housing available in the area 
                        of intended employment for migrant farm workers 
                        and H-2A workers who are seeking temporary 
                        housing while employed in agricultural work. 
                        Such certification shall expire after 3 years 
                        unless renewed by the Governor of the State.
                            ``(iii) Amount of allowance.--
                                    ``(I) Nonmetropolitan counties.--If 
                                the place of employment of the workers 
                                provided an allowance under this 
                                subparagraph is a nonmetropolitan 
                                county, the amount of the housing 
                                allowance under this subparagraph shall 
                                be equal to the statewide average fair 
                                market rental for existing housing for 
                                nonmetropolitan counties for the State, 
                                as established by the Secretary of 
                                Housing and Urban Development pursuant 
                                to section 8(c) of the United States 
                                Housing Act of 1937 (42 U.S.C. 
                                1437f(c)), based on a 2-bedroom 
                                dwelling unit and an assumption of 2 
                                persons per bedroom.
                                    ``(II) Metropolitan counties.--If 
                                the place of employment of the workers 
                                provided an allowance under this 
                                paragraph is in a metropolitan county, 
                                the amount of the housing allowance 
                                under this subparagraph shall be equal 
                                to the statewide average fair market 
                                rental for existing housing for 
                                metropolitan counties for the State, as 
                                established by the Secretary of Housing 
                                and Urban Development pursuant to 
                                section 8(c) of the United States 
                                Housing Act of 1937 (42 U.S.C. 
                                1437f(c)), based on a 2-bedroom 
                                dwelling unit and an assumption of 2 
                                persons per bedroom.
            ``(2) Reimbursement of transportation.--
                    ``(A) To place of employment.--A worker who 
                completes 50 percent of the period of employment of the 
                job opportunity for which the worker was hired shall be 
                reimbursed by the employer for the cost of the worker's 
                transportation and subsistence from the place from 
                which the worker came to work for the employer (or 
                place of last employment, if the worker traveled from 
                such place) to the place of employment.
                    ``(B) From place of employment.--A worker who 
                completes the period of employment for the job 
                opportunity involved shall be reimbursed by the 
                employer for the cost of the worker's transportation 
                and subsistence from the place of employment to the 
                place from which the worker, disregarding intervening 
                employment, came to work for the employer, or to the 
                place of next employment, if the worker has contracted 
                with a subsequent employer who has not agreed to 
                provide or pay for the worker's transportation and 
                subsistence to such subsequent employer's place of 
                employment.
                    ``(C) Limitation.--
                            ``(i) Amount of reimbursement.--Except as 
                        provided in clause (ii), the amount of 
                        reimbursement provided under subparagraph (A) 
                        or (B) to a worker or alien shall not exceed 
                        the lesser of--
                                    ``(I) the actual cost to the worker 
                                or alien of the transportation and 
                                subsistence involved; or
                                    ``(II) the most economical and 
                                reasonable common carrier 
                                transportation charges and subsistence 
                                costs for the distance involved.
                            ``(ii) Distance traveled.--No reimbursement 
                        under subparagraph (A) or (B) shall be required 
                        if the distance traveled is 100 miles or less, 
                        or the worker is not residing in employer-
                        provided housing or housing secured through an 
                        allowance as provided in paragraph (1)(G).
                    ``(D) Early termination.--If the worker is laid off 
                or employment is terminated for contract impossibility 
                (as described in paragraph (4)(D)) before the 
                anticipated ending date of employment, the employer 
                shall provide the transportation and subsistence 
                required by subparagraph (B) and, notwithstanding 
                whether the worker has completed 50 percent of the 
                period of employment, shall provide the transportation 
                reimbursement required by subparagraph (A).
                    ``(E) Transportation between living quarters and 
                worksite.--The employer shall provide transportation 
                between the worker's living quarters and the employer's 
                worksite without cost to the worker, and such 
                transportation will be in accordance with applicable 
                laws and regulations.
            ``(3) Required wages.--
                    ``(A) In general.--An employer applying for workers 
                under section 218(a) shall offer to pay, and shall pay, 
                all workers in the occupation for which the employer 
                has applied for workers, not less (and is not required 
                to pay more) than the greater of the prevailing wage in 
                the occupation in the area of intended employment or 
                the adverse effect wage rate. No worker shall be paid 
                less than the greater of the hourly wage prescribed 
                under section 6(a)(1) of the Fair Labor Standards Act 
                of 1938 (29 U.S.C. 206(a)(1)) or the applicable State 
                minimum wage.
                    ``(B) Limitation.--Effective on the date of the 
                enactment of the Agricultural Job Opportunities, 
                Benefits, and Security Act of 2009 and continuing for 3 
                years thereafter, no adverse effect wage rate for a 
                State may be more than the adverse effect wage rate for 
                that State in effect on January 1, 2009, as established 
                by section 655.107 of title 20, Code of Federal 
                Regulations.
                    ``(C) Required wages after 3-year freeze.--
                            ``(i) First adjustment.--If Congress does 
                        not set a new wage standard applicable to this 
                        section before the first March 1 that is not 
                        less than 3 years after the date of enactment 
                        of this section, the adverse effect wage rate 
                        for each State beginning on such March 1 shall 
                        be the wage rate that would have resulted if 
                        the adverse effect wage rate in effect on 
                        January 1, 2009, had been annually adjusted, 
                        beginning on March 1, 2012, by the lesser of--
                                    ``(I) the 12-month percentage 
                                change in the Consumer Price Index for 
                                All Urban Consumers between December of 
                                the second preceding year and December 
                                of the preceding year; and
                                    ``(II) 4 percent.
                            ``(ii) Subsequent annual adjustments.--
                        Beginning on the first March 1 that is not less 
                        than 4 years after the date of enactment of 
                        this section, and each March 1 thereafter, the 
                        adverse effect wage rate then in effect for 
                        each State shall be adjusted by the lesser of--
                                    ``(I) the 12-month percentage 
                                change in the Consumer Price Index for 
                                All Urban Consumers between December of 
                                the second preceding year and December 
                                of the preceding year; and
                                    ``(II) 4 percent.
                    ``(D) Deductions.--The employer shall make only 
                those deductions from the worker's wages that are 
                authorized by law or are reasonable and customary in 
                the occupation and area of employment. The job offer 
                shall specify all deductions not required by law which 
                the employer will make from the worker's wages.
                    ``(E) Frequency of pay.--The employer shall pay the 
                worker not less frequently than twice monthly, or in 
                accordance with the prevailing practice in the area of 
                employment, whichever is more frequent.
                    ``(F) Hours and earnings statements.--The employer 
                shall furnish to the worker, on or before each payday, 
                in 1 or more written statements--
                            ``(i) the worker's total earnings for the 
                        pay period;
                            ``(ii) the worker's hourly rate of pay, 
                        piece rate of pay, or both;
                            ``(iii) the hours of employment which have 
                        been offered to the worker (broken out by hours 
                        offered in accordance with and over and above 
                        the \3/4\ guarantee described in paragraph (4);
                            ``(iv) the hours actually worked by the 
                        worker;
                            ``(v) an itemization of the deductions made 
                        from the worker's wages; and
                            ``(vi) if piece rates of pay are used, the 
                        units produced daily.
                    ``(G) Report on wage protections.--Not later than 
                December 31, 2011, the Comptroller General of the 
                United States shall prepare and transmit to the 
                Secretary of Labor, the Committee on the Judiciary of 
                the Senate, and Committee on the Judiciary of the House 
                of Representatives, a report that addresses--
                            ``(i) whether the employment of H-2A or 
                        unauthorized aliens in the United States 
                        agricultural workforce has depressed United 
                        States farm worker wages below the levels that 
                        would otherwise have prevailed if alien farm 
                        workers had not been employed in the United 
                        States;
                            ``(ii) whether an adverse effect wage rate 
                        is necessary to prevent wages of United States 
                        farm workers in occupations in which H-2A 
                        workers are employed from falling below the 
                        wage levels that would have prevailed in the 
                        absence of the employment of H-2A workers in 
                        those occupations;
                            ``(iii) whether alternative wage standards, 
                        such as a prevailing wage standard, would be 
                        sufficient to prevent wages in occupations in 
                        which H-2A workers are employed from falling 
                        below the wage level that would have prevailed 
                        in the absence of H-2A employment;
                            ``(iv) whether any changes are warranted in 
                        the current methodologies for calculating the 
                        adverse effect wage rate and the prevailing 
                        wage; and
                            ``(v) recommendations for future wage 
                        protection under this section.
                    ``(H) Commission on wage standards.--
                            ``(i) Establishment.--There is established 
                        the Commission on Agricultural Wage Standards 
                        under the H-2A program (in this subparagraph 
                        referred to as the `Commission').
                            ``(ii) Composition.--The Commission shall 
                        consist of 10 members as follows:
                                    ``(I) Four representatives of 
                                agricultural employers and 1 
                                representative of the Department of 
                                Agriculture, each appointed by the 
                                Secretary of Agriculture.
                                    ``(II) Four representatives of 
                                agricultural workers and 1 
                                representative of the Department of 
                                Labor, each appointed by the Secretary 
                                of Labor.
                            ``(iii) Functions.--The Commission shall 
                        conduct a study that shall address--
                                    ``(I) whether the employment of H-
                                2A or unauthorized aliens in the United 
                                States agricultural workforce has 
                                depressed United States farm worker 
                                wages below the levels that would 
                                otherwise have prevailed if alien farm 
                                workers had not been employed in the 
                                United States;
                                    ``(II) whether an adverse effect 
                                wage rate is necessary to prevent wages 
                                of United States farm workers in 
                                occupations in which H-2A workers are 
                                employed from falling below the wage 
                                levels that would have prevailed in the 
                                absence of the employment of H-2A 
                                workers in those occupations;
                                    ``(III) whether alternative wage 
                                standards, such as a prevailing wage 
                                standard, would be sufficient to 
                                prevent wages in occupations in which 
                                H-2A workers are employed from falling 
                                below the wage level that would have 
                                prevailed in the absence of H-2A 
                                employment;
                                    ``(IV) whether any changes are 
                                warranted in the current methodologies 
                                for calculating the adverse effect wage 
                                rate and the prevailing wage rate; and
                                    ``(V) recommendations for future 
                                wage protection under this section.
                            ``(iv) Final report.--Not later than 
                        December 31, 2011, the Commission shall submit 
                        a report to the Congress setting forth the 
                        findings of the study conducted under clause 
                        (iii).
                            ``(v) Termination date.--The Commission 
                        shall terminate upon submitting its final 
                        report.
            ``(4) Guarantee of employment.--
                    ``(A) Offer to worker.--The employer shall 
                guarantee to offer the worker employment for the hourly 
                equivalent of at least \3/4\ of the work days of the 
                total period of employment, beginning with the first 
                work day after the arrival of the worker at the place 
                of employment and ending on the expiration date 
                specified in the job offer. For purposes of this 
                subparagraph, the hourly equivalent means the number of 
                hours in the work days as stated in the job offer and 
                shall exclude the worker's Sabbath and Federal 
                holidays. If the employer affords the United States or 
                H-2A worker less employment than that required under 
                this paragraph, the employer shall pay such worker the 
                amount which the worker would have earned had the 
                worker, in fact, worked for the guaranteed number of 
                hours.
                    ``(B) Failure to work.--Any hours which the worker 
                fails to work, up to a maximum of the number of hours 
                specified in the job offer for a work day, when the 
                worker has been offered an opportunity to do so, and 
                all hours of work actually performed (including 
                voluntary work in excess of the number of hours 
                specified in the job offer in a work day, on the 
                worker's Sabbath, or on Federal holidays) may be 
                counted by the employer in calculating whether the 
                period of guaranteed employment has been met.
                    ``(C) Abandonment of employment, termination for 
                cause.--If the worker voluntarily abandons employment 
                before the end of the contract period, or is terminated 
                for cause, the worker is not entitled to the `\3/4\ 
                guarantee' described in subparagraph (A).
                    ``(D) Contract impossibility.--If, before the 
                expiration of the period of employment specified in the 
                job offer, the services of the worker are no longer 
                required for reasons beyond the control of the employer 
                due to any form of natural disaster, including a flood, 
                hurricane, freeze, earthquake, fire, drought, plant or 
                animal disease or pest infestation, or regulatory 
                drought, before the guarantee in subparagraph (A) is 
                fulfilled, the employer may terminate the worker's 
                employment. In the event of such termination, the 
                employer shall fulfill the employment guarantee in 
                subparagraph (A) for the work days that have elapsed 
                from the first work day after the arrival of the worker 
                to the termination of employment. In such cases, the 
                employer will make efforts to transfer the United 
                States worker to other comparable employment acceptable 
                to the worker. If such transfer is not effected, the 
                employer shall provide the return transportation 
                required in paragraph (2)(D).
            ``(5) Motor vehicle safety.--
                    ``(A) Mode of transportation subject to coverage.--
                            ``(i) In general.--Except as provided in 
                        clauses (iii) and (iv), this subsection applies 
                        to any H-2A employer that uses or causes to be 
                        used any vehicle to transport an H-2A worker 
                        within the United States.
                            ``(ii) Defined term.--In this paragraph, 
                        the term `uses or causes to be used'--
                                    ``(I) applies only to 
                                transportation provided by an H-2A 
                                employer to an H-2A worker, or by a 
                                farm labor contractor to an H-2A worker 
                                at the request or direction of an H-2A 
                                employer; and
                                    ``(II) does not apply to--
                                            ``(aa) transportation 
                                        provided, or transportation 
                                        arrangements made, by an H-2A 
                                        worker, unless the employer 
                                        specifically requested or 
                                        arranged such transportation; 
                                        or
                                            ``(bb) car pooling 
                                        arrangements made by H-2A 
                                        workers themselves, using 1 of 
                                        the workers' own vehicles, 
                                        unless specifically requested 
                                        by the employer directly or 
                                        through a farm labor 
                                        contractor.
                            ``(iii) Clarification.--Providing a job 
                        offer to an H-2A worker that causes the worker 
                        to travel to or from the place of employment, 
                        or the payment or reimbursement of the 
                        transportation costs of an H-2A worker by an H-
                        2A employer, shall not constitute an 
                        arrangement of, or participation in, such 
                        transportation.
                            ``(iv) Agricultural machinery and equipment 
                        excluded.--This subsection does not apply to 
                        the transportation of an H-2A worker on a 
                        tractor, combine, harvester, picker, or other 
                        similar machinery or equipment while such 
                        worker is actually engaged in the planting, 
                        cultivating, or harvesting of agricultural 
                        commodities or the care of livestock or poultry 
                        or engaged in transportation incidental 
                        thereto.
                            ``(v) Common carriers excluded.--This 
                        subsection does not apply to common carrier 
                        motor vehicle transportation in which the 
                        provider holds itself out to the general public 
                        as engaging in the transportation of passengers 
                        for hire and holds a valid certification of 
                        authorization for such purposes from an 
                        appropriate Federal, State, or local agency.
                    ``(B) Applicability of standards, licensing, and 
                insurance requirements.--
                            ``(i) In general.--When using, or causing 
                        to be used, any vehicle for the purpose of 
                        providing transportation to which this 
                        subparagraph applies, each employer shall--
                                    ``(I) ensure that each such vehicle 
                                conforms to the standards prescribed by 
                                the Secretary of Labor under section 
                                401(b) of the Migrant and Seasonal 
                                Agricultural Worker Protection Act (29 
                                U.S.C. 1841(b)) and other applicable 
                                Federal and State safety standards;
                                    ``(II) ensure that each driver has 
                                a valid and appropriate license, as 
                                provided by State law, to operate the 
                                vehicle; and
                                    ``(III) have an insurance policy or 
                                a liability bond that is in effect 
                                which insures the employer against 
                                liability for damage to persons or 
                                property arising from the ownership, 
                                operation, or causing to be operated, 
                                of any vehicle used to transport any H-
                                2A worker.
                            ``(ii) Amount of insurance required.--The 
                        level of insurance required shall be determined 
                        by the Secretary of Labor pursuant to 
                        regulations to be issued under this subsection.
                            ``(iii) Effect of workers' compensation 
                        coverage.--If the employer of any H-2A worker 
                        provides workers' compensation coverage for 
                        such worker in the case of bodily injury or 
                        death as provided by State law, the following 
                        adjustments in the requirements of subparagraph 
                        (B)(i)(III) relating to having an insurance 
                        policy or liability bond apply:
                                    ``(I) No insurance policy or 
                                liability bond shall be required of the 
                                employer, if such workers are 
                                transported only under circumstances 
                                for which there is coverage under such 
                                State law.
                                    ``(II) An insurance policy or 
                                liability bond shall be required of the 
                                employer for circumstances under which 
                                coverage for the transportation of such 
                                workers is not provided under such 
                                State law.
    ``(c) Compliance With Labor Laws.--An employer shall assure that, 
except as otherwise provided in this section, the employer will comply 
with all applicable Federal, State, and local labor laws, including 
laws affecting migrant and seasonal agricultural workers, with respect 
to all United States workers and alien workers employed by the 
employer, except that a violation of this assurance shall not 
constitute a violation of the Migrant and Seasonal Agricultural Worker 
Protection Act (29 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.).
    ``(d) Copy of Job Offer.--The employer shall provide to the worker, 
not later than the day the work commences, a copy of the employer's 
application and job offer described in section 218(a), or, if the 
employer will require the worker to enter into a separate employment 
contract covering the employment in question, such separate employment 
contract.
    ``(e) Range Production of Livestock.--Nothing in this section, 
section 218, or section 218B shall preclude the Secretary of Labor and 
the Secretary from continuing to apply special procedures and 
requirements to the admission and employment of aliens in occupations 
involving the range production of livestock.

``SEC. 218B. PROCEDURE FOR ADMISSION AND EXTENSION OF STAY OF H-2A 
              WORKERS.

    ``(a) Petitioning for Admission.--An employer, or an association 
acting as an agent or joint employer for its members, that seeks the 
admission into the United States of an H-2A worker may file a petition 
with the Secretary. The petition shall be accompanied by an accepted 
and currently valid certification provided by the Secretary of Labor 
under section 218(e)(2)(B) covering the petitioner.
    ``(b) Expedited Adjudication by the Secretary.--The Secretary shall 
establish a procedure for expedited adjudication of petitions filed 
under subsection (a) and within 7 working days shall, by fax, cable, or 
other means assuring expedited delivery, transmit a copy of notice of 
action on the petition to the petitioner and, in the case of approved 
petitions, to the appropriate immigration officer at the port of entry 
or United States consulate (as the case may be) where the petitioner 
has indicated that the alien beneficiary (or beneficiaries) will apply 
for a visa or admission to the United States.
    ``(c) Criteria for Admissibility.--
            ``(1) In general.--An H-2A worker shall be considered 
        admissible to the United States if the alien is otherwise 
        admissible under this section, section 218, and section 218A, 
        and the alien is not ineligible under paragraph (2).
            ``(2) Disqualification.--An alien shall be considered 
        inadmissible to the United States and ineligible for 
        nonimmigrant status under section 101(a)(15)(H)(ii)(a) if the 
        alien has, at any time during the past 5 years--
                    ``(A) violated a material provision of this 
                section, including the requirement to promptly depart 
                the United States when the alien's authorized period of 
                admission under this section has expired; or
                    ``(B) otherwise violated a term or condition of 
                admission into the United States as a nonimmigrant, 
                including overstaying the period of authorized 
                admission as such a nonimmigrant.
            ``(3) Waiver of ineligibility for unlawful presence.--
                    ``(A) In general.--An alien who has not previously 
                been admitted into the United States pursuant to this 
                section, and who is otherwise eligible for admission in 
                accordance with paragraphs (1) and (2), shall not be 
                deemed inadmissible by virtue of section 212(a)(9)(B). 
                If an alien described in the preceding sentence is 
                present in the United States, the alien may apply from 
                abroad for H-2A status, but may not be granted that 
                status in the United States.
                    ``(B) Maintenance of waiver.--An alien provided an 
                initial waiver of ineligibility pursuant to 
                subparagraph (A) shall remain eligible for such waiver 
                unless the alien violates the terms of this section or 
                again becomes ineligible under section 212(a)(9)(B) by 
                virtue of unlawful presence in the United States after 
                the date of the initial waiver of ineligibility 
                pursuant to subparagraph (A).
    ``(d) Period of Admission.--
            ``(1) In general.--The alien shall be admitted for the 
        period of employment in the application certified by the 
        Secretary of Labor pursuant to section 218(e)(2)(B), not to 
        exceed 10 months, supplemented by a period of not more than 1 
        week before the beginning of the period of employment for the 
        purpose of travel to the worksite and a period of 14 days 
        following the period of employment for the purpose of departure 
        or extension based on a subsequent offer of employment, except 
        that--
                    ``(A) the alien is not authorized to be employed 
                during such 14-day period except in the employment for 
                which the alien was previously authorized; and
                    ``(B) the total period of employment, including 
                such 14-day period, may not exceed 10 months.
            ``(2) Construction.--Nothing in this subsection shall limit 
        the authority of the Secretary to extend the stay of the alien 
        under any other provision of this Act.
    ``(e) Abandonment of Employment.--
            ``(1) In general.--An alien admitted or provided status 
        under section 101(a)(15)(H)(ii)(a) who abandons the employment 
        which was the basis for such admission or status shall be 
        considered to have failed to maintain nonimmigrant status as an 
        H-2A worker and shall depart the United States or be subject to 
        removal under section 237(a)(1)(C)(i).
            ``(2) Report by employer.--The employer, or association 
        acting as agent for the employer, shall notify the Secretary 
        not later than 7 days after an H-2A worker prematurely abandons 
        employment.
            ``(3) Removal by the secretary.--The Secretary shall 
        promptly remove from the United States any H-2A worker who 
        violates any term or condition of the worker's nonimmigrant 
        status.
            ``(4) Voluntary termination.--Notwithstanding paragraph 
        (1), an alien may voluntarily terminate his or her employment 
        if the alien promptly departs the United States upon 
        termination of such employment.
    ``(f) Replacement of Alien.--
            ``(1) In general.--Upon presentation of the notice to the 
        Secretary required by subsection (e)(2), the Secretary of State 
        shall promptly issue a visa to, and the Secretary shall admit 
        into the United States, an eligible alien designated by the 
        employer to replace an H-2A worker--
                    ``(A) who abandons or prematurely terminates 
                employment; or
                    ``(B) whose employment is terminated after a United 
                States worker is employed pursuant to section 
                218(b)(2)(H)(iii), if the United States worker 
                voluntarily departs before the end of the period of 
                intended employment or if the employment termination is 
                for a lawful job-related reason.
            ``(2) Construction.--Nothing in this subsection is intended 
        to limit any preference required to be accorded United States 
        workers under any other provision of this Act.
    ``(g) Identification Document.--
            ``(1) In general.--Each alien authorized to be admitted 
        under section 101(a)(15)(H)(ii)(a) shall be provided an 
        identification and employment eligibility document to verify 
        eligibility for employment in the United States and verify the 
        alien's identity.
            ``(2) Requirements.--No identification and employment 
        eligibility document may be issued which does not meet the 
        following requirements:
                    ``(A) The document shall be capable of reliably 
                determining whether--
                            ``(i) the individual with the 
                        identification and employment eligibility 
                        document whose eligibility is being verified is 
                        in fact eligible for employment;
                            ``(ii) the individual whose eligibility is 
                        being verified is claiming the identity of 
                        another person; and
                            ``(iii) the individual whose eligibility is 
                        being verified is authorized to be admitted 
                        into, and employed in, the United States as an 
                        H-2A worker.
                    ``(B) The document shall be in a form that is 
                resistant to counterfeiting and to tampering.
                    ``(C) The document shall--
                            ``(i) be compatible with other databases of 
                        the Secretary for the purpose of excluding 
                        aliens from benefits for which they are not 
                        eligible and determining whether the alien is 
                        unlawfully present in the United States; and
                            ``(ii) be compatible with law enforcement 
                        databases to determine if the alien has been 
                        convicted of criminal offenses.
    ``(h) Extension of Stay of H-2A Aliens in the United States.--
            ``(1) Extension of stay.--If an employer seeks approval to 
        employ an H-2A alien who is lawfully present in the United 
        States, the petition filed by the employer or an association 
        pursuant to subsection (a), shall request an extension of the 
        alien's stay and a change in the alien's employment.
            ``(2) Limitation on filing a petition for extension of 
        stay.--A petition may not be filed for an extension of an 
        alien's stay--
                    ``(A) for a period of more than 10 months; or
                    ``(B) to a date that is more than 3 years after the 
                date of the alien's last admission to the United States 
                under this section.
            ``(3) Work authorization upon filing a petition for 
        extension of stay.--
                    ``(A) In general.--An alien who is lawfully present 
                in the United States may commence the employment 
                described in a petition under paragraph (1) on the date 
                on which the petition is filed.
                    ``(B) Definition.--For purposes of subparagraph 
                (A), the term `file' means sending the petition by 
                certified mail via the United States Postal Service, 
                return receipt requested, or delivered by guaranteed 
                commercial delivery which will provide the employer 
                with a documented acknowledgment of the date of receipt 
                of the petition.
                    ``(C) Handling of petition.--The employer shall 
                provide a copy of the employer's petition to the alien, 
                who shall keep the petition with the alien's 
                identification and employment eligibility document as 
                evidence that the petition has been filed and that the 
                alien is authorized to work in the United States.
                    ``(D) Approval of petition.--Upon approval of a 
                petition for an extension of stay or change in the 
                alien's authorized employment, the Secretary shall 
                provide a new or updated employment eligibility 
                document to the alien indicating the new validity date, 
                after which the alien is not required to retain a copy 
                of the petition.
            ``(4) Limitation on employment authorization of aliens 
        without valid identification and employment eligibility 
        document.--An expired identification and employment eligibility 
        document, together with a copy of a petition for extension of 
        stay or change in the alien's authorized employment that 
        complies with the requirements of paragraph (1), shall 
        constitute a valid work authorization document for a period of 
        not more than 60 days beginning on the date on which such 
        petition is filed, after which time only a currently valid 
        identification and employment eligibility document shall be 
        acceptable.
            ``(5) Limitation on an individual's stay in status.--
                    ``(A) Maximum period.--The maximum continuous 
                period of authorized status as an H-2A worker 
                (including any extensions) is 3 years.
                    ``(B) Requirement to remain outside the united 
                states.--
                            ``(i) In general.--Subject to clause (ii), 
                        in the case of an alien outside the United 
                        States whose period of authorized status as an 
                        H-2A worker (including any extensions) has 
                        expired, the alien may not again apply for 
                        admission to the United States as an H-2A 
                        worker unless the alien has remained outside 
                        the United States for a continuous period equal 
                        to at least \1/5\ the duration of the alien's 
                        previous period of authorized status as an H-2A 
                        worker (including any extensions).
                            ``(ii) Exception.--Clause (i) shall not 
                        apply in the case of an alien if the alien's 
                        period of authorized status as an H-2A worker 
                        (including any extensions) was for a period of 
                        not more than 10 months and such alien has been 
                        outside the United States for at least 2 months 
                        during the 12 months preceding the date the 
                        alien again is applying for admission to the 
                        United States as an H-2A worker.
    ``(i) Special Rules for Aliens Employed as Sheepherders, Goat 
Herders, or Dairy Workers.--Notwithstanding any provision of the 
Agricultural Job Opportunities, Benefits, and Security Act of 2009, an 
alien admitted under section 101(a)(15)(H)(ii)(a) for employment as a 
sheepherder, goat herder, or dairy worker--
            ``(1) may be admitted for an initial period of 12 months;
            ``(2) subject to subsection (j)(5), may have such initial 
        period of admission extended for a period of up to 3 years; and
            ``(3) shall not be subject to the requirements of 
        subsection (h)(5) (relating to periods of absence from the 
        United States).
    ``(j) Adjustment to Lawful Permanent Resident Status for Aliens 
Employed as Sheepherders, Goat Herders, or Dairy Workers.--
            ``(1) Eligible alien.--For purposes of this subsection, the 
        term `eligible alien' means an alien--
                    ``(A) having nonimmigrant status under section 
                101(a)(15)(H)(ii)(a) based on employment as a 
                sheepherder, goat herder, or dairy worker;
                    ``(B) who has maintained such nonimmigrant status 
                in the United States for a cumulative total of 36 
                months (excluding any period of absence from the United 
                States); and
                    ``(C) who is seeking to receive an immigrant visa 
                under section 203(b)(3)(A)(iii).
            ``(2) Classification petition.--In the case of an eligible 
        alien, the petition under section 204 for classification under 
        section 203(b)(3)(A)(iii) may be filed by--
                    ``(A) the alien's employer on behalf of the 
                eligible alien; or
                    ``(B) the eligible alien.
            ``(3) No labor certification required.--Notwithstanding 
        section 203(b)(3)(C), no determination under section 
        212(a)(5)(A) is required with respect to an immigrant visa 
        described in paragraph (1)(C) for an eligible alien.
            ``(4) Effect of petition.--The filing of a petition 
        described in paragraph (2) or an application for adjustment of 
        status based on the approval of such a petition shall not 
        constitute evidence of an alien's ineligibility for 
        nonimmigrant status under section 101(a)(15)(H)(ii)(a).
            ``(5) Extension of stay.--The Secretary shall extend the 
        stay of an eligible alien having a pending or approved 
        classification petition described in paragraph (2) in 1-year 
        increments until a final determination is made on the alien's 
        eligibility for adjustment of status to that of an alien 
        lawfully admitted for permanent residence.
            ``(6) Construction.--Nothing in this subsection shall be 
        construed to prevent an eligible alien from seeking adjustment 
        of status in accordance with any other provision of law.

``SEC. 218C. WORKER PROTECTIONS AND LABOR STANDARDS ENFORCEMENT.

    ``(a) Enforcement Authority.--
            ``(1) Investigation of complaints.--
                    ``(A) Aggrieved person or third-party complaints.--
                The Secretary of Labor shall establish a process for 
                the receipt, investigation, and disposition of 
                complaints respecting a petitioner's failure to meet a 
                condition specified in section 218(b), or an employer's 
                misrepresentation of material facts in an application 
                under section 218(a). Complaints may be filed by any 
                aggrieved person or organization (including bargaining 
                representatives). No investigation or hearing shall be 
                conducted on a complaint concerning such a failure or 
                misrepresentation unless the complaint was filed not 
                later than 12 months after the date of the failure, or 
                misrepresentation, respectively. The Secretary of Labor 
                shall conduct an investigation under this subparagraph 
                if there is reasonable cause to believe that such a 
                failure or misrepresentation has occurred.
                    ``(B) Determination on complaint.--Under such 
                process, the Secretary of Labor shall provide, within 
                30 days after the date such a complaint is filed, for a 
                determination as to whether or not a reasonable basis 
                exists to make a finding described in subparagraph (C), 
                (D), (E), or (G). If the Secretary of Labor determines 
                that such a reasonable basis exists, the Secretary of 
                Labor shall provide for notice of such determination to 
                the interested parties and an opportunity for a hearing 
                on the complaint, in accordance with section 556 of 
                title 5, United States Code, within 60 days after the 
                date of the determination. If such a hearing is 
                requested, the Secretary of Labor shall make a finding 
                concerning the matter not later than 60 days after the 
                date of the hearing. In the case of similar complaints 
                respecting the same applicant, the Secretary of Labor 
                may consolidate the hearings under this subparagraph on 
                such complaints.
                    ``(C) Failures to meet conditions.--If the 
                Secretary of Labor finds, after notice and opportunity 
                for a hearing, a failure to meet a condition of 
                paragraph (1)(A), (1)(B), (1)(D), (1)(F), (2)(A), 
                (2)(B), or (2)(G) of section 218(b), a substantial 
                failure to meet a condition of paragraph (1)(C), 
                (1)(E), (2)(C), (2)(D), (2)(E), or (2)(H) of section 
                218(b), or a material misrepresentation of fact in an 
                application under section 218(a)--
                            ``(i) the Secretary of Labor shall notify 
                        the Secretary of such finding and may, in 
                        addition, impose such other administrative 
                        remedies (including civil money penalties in an 
                        amount not to exceed $1,000 per violation) as 
                        the Secretary of Labor determines to be 
                        appropriate; and
                            ``(ii) the Secretary may disqualify the 
                        employer from the employment of aliens 
                        described in section 101(a)(15)(H)(ii)(a) for a 
                        period of 1 year.
                    ``(D) Willful failures and willful 
                misrepresentations.--If the Secretary of Labor finds, 
                after notice and opportunity for hearing, a willful 
                failure to meet a condition of section 218(b), a 
                willful misrepresentation of a material fact in an 
                application under section 218(a), or a violation of 
                subsection (d)(1)--
                            ``(i) the Secretary of Labor shall notify 
                        the Secretary of such finding and may, in 
                        addition, impose such other administrative 
                        remedies (including civil money penalties in an 
                        amount not to exceed $5,000 per violation) as 
                        the Secretary of Labor determines to be 
                        appropriate;
                            ``(ii) the Secretary of Labor may seek 
                        appropriate legal or equitable relief to 
                        effectuate the purposes of subsection (d)(1); 
                        and
                            ``(iii) the Secretary may disqualify the 
                        employer from the employment of H-2A workers 
                        for a period of 2 years.
                    ``(E) Displacement of united states workers.--If 
                the Secretary of Labor finds, after notice and 
                opportunity for hearing, a willful failure to meet a 
                condition of section 218(b) or a willful 
                misrepresentation of a material fact in an application 
                under section 218(a), in the course of which failure or 
                misrepresentation the employer displaced a United 
                States worker employed by the employer during the 
                period of employment on the employer's application 
                under section 218(a) or during the period of 30 days 
                preceding such period of employment--
                            ``(i) the Secretary of Labor shall notify 
                        the Secretary of such finding and may, in 
                        addition, impose such other administrative 
                        remedies (including civil money penalties in an 
                        amount not to exceed $15,000 per violation) as 
                        the Secretary of Labor determines to be 
                        appropriate; and
                            ``(ii) the Secretary may disqualify the 
                        employer from the employment of H-2A workers 
                        for a period of 3 years.
                    ``(F) Limitations on civil money penalties.--The 
                Secretary of Labor shall not impose total civil money 
                penalties with respect to an application under section 
                218(a) in excess of $90,000.
                    ``(G) Failures to pay wages or required benefits.--
                If the Secretary of Labor finds, after notice and 
                opportunity for a hearing, that the employer has failed 
                to pay the wages, or provide the housing allowance, 
                transportation, subsistence reimbursement, or guarantee 
                of employment, required under section 218A(b), the 
                Secretary of Labor shall assess payment of back wages, 
                or other required benefits, due any United States 
                worker or H-2A worker employed by the employer in the 
                specific employment in question. The back wages or 
                other required benefits under section 218A(b) shall be 
                equal to the difference between the amount that should 
                have been paid and the amount that actually was paid to 
                such worker.
            ``(2) Statutory construction.--Nothing in this section 
        shall be construed as limiting the authority of the Secretary 
        of Labor to conduct any compliance investigation under any 
        other labor law, including any law affecting migrant and 
        seasonal agricultural workers, or, in the absence of a 
        complaint under this section, under section 218 or 218A.
    ``(b) Rights Enforceable by Private Right of Action.--H-2A workers 
may enforce the following rights through the private right of action 
provided in subsection (c), and no other right of action shall exist 
under Federal or State law to enforce such rights:
            ``(1) The providing of housing or a housing allowance as 
        required under section 218A(b)(1).
            ``(2) The reimbursement of transportation as required under 
        section 218A(b)(2).
            ``(3) The payment of wages required under section 
        218A(b)(3) when due.
            ``(4) The benefits and material terms and conditions of 
        employment expressly provided in the job offer described in 
        section 218(a)(2), not including the assurance to comply with 
        other Federal, State, and local labor laws described in section 
        218A(c), compliance with which shall be governed by the 
        provisions of such laws.
            ``(5) The guarantee of employment required under section 
        218A(b)(4).
            ``(6) The motor vehicle safety requirements under section 
        218A(b)(5).
            ``(7) The prohibition of discrimination under subsection 
        (d)(2).
    ``(c) Private Right of Action.--
            ``(1) Mediation.--Upon the filing of a complaint by an H-2A 
        worker aggrieved by a violation of rights enforceable under 
        subsection (b), and within 60 days of the filing of proof of 
        service of the complaint, a party to the action may file a 
        request with the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service to 
        assist the parties in reaching a satisfactory resolution of all 
        issues involving all parties to the dispute. Upon a filing of 
        such request and giving of notice to the parties, the parties 
        shall attempt mediation within the period specified in 
        subparagraph (B).
                    ``(A) Mediation services.--The Federal Mediation 
                and Conciliation Service shall be available to assist 
                in resolving disputes arising under subsection (b) 
                between H-2A workers and agricultural employers without 
                charge to the parties.
                    ``(B) 90-day limit.--The Federal Mediation and 
                Conciliation Service may conduct mediation or other 
                nonbinding dispute resolution activities for a period 
                not to exceed 90 days beginning on the date on which 
                the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service receives 
                the request for assistance unless the parties agree to 
                an extension of this period of time.
                    ``(C) Authorization.--
                            ``(i) In general.--Subject to clause (ii), 
                        there are authorized to be appropriated to the 
                        Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service 
                        $500,000 for each fiscal year to carry out this 
                        section.
                            ``(ii) Mediation.--Notwithstanding any 
                        other provision of law, the Director of the 
                        Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service is 
                        authorized to conduct the mediation or other 
                        dispute resolution activities from any other 
                        appropriated funds available to the Director 
                        and to reimburse such appropriated funds when 
                        the funds are appropriated pursuant to this 
                        authorization, such reimbursement to be 
                        credited to appropriations currently available 
                        at the time of receipt.
            ``(2) Maintenance of civil action in district court by 
        aggrieved person.--An H-2A worker aggrieved by a violation of 
        rights enforceable under subsection (b) by an agricultural 
        employer or other person may file suit in any district court of 
        the United States having jurisdiction over the parties, without 
        regard to the amount in controversy, without regard to the 
        citizenship of the parties, and without regard to the 
        exhaustion of any alternative administrative remedies under 
        this Act, not later than 3 years after the date the violation 
        occurs.
            ``(3) Election.--An H-2A worker who has filed an 
        administrative complaint with the Secretary of Labor may not 
        maintain a civil action under paragraph (2) unless a complaint 
        based on the same violation filed with the Secretary of Labor 
        under subsection (a)(1) is withdrawn before the filing of such 
        action, in which case the rights and remedies available under 
        this subsection shall be exclusive.
            ``(4) Preemption of state contract rights.--Nothing in this 
        Act shall be construed to diminish the rights and remedies of 
        an H-2A worker under any other Federal or State law or 
        regulation or under any collective bargaining agreement, except 
        that no court or administrative action shall be available under 
        any State contract law to enforce the rights created by this 
        Act.
            ``(5) Waiver of rights prohibited.--Agreements by employees 
        purporting to waive or modify their rights under this Act shall 
        be void as contrary to public policy, except that a waiver or 
        modification of the rights or obligations in favor of the 
        Secretary of Labor shall be valid for purposes of the 
        enforcement of this Act. The preceding sentence may not be 
        construed to prohibit agreements to settle private disputes or 
        litigation.
            ``(6) Award of damages or other equitable relief.--
                    ``(A) If the court finds that the respondent has 
                intentionally violated any of the rights enforceable 
                under subsection (b), it shall award actual damages, if 
                any, or equitable relief.
                    ``(B) Any civil action brought under this section 
                shall be subject to appeal as provided in chapter 83 of 
                title 28, United States Code.
            ``(7) Workers' compensation benefits; exclusive remedy.--
                    ``(A) Notwithstanding any other provision of this 
                section, where a State's workers' compensation law is 
                applicable and coverage is provided for an H-2A worker, 
                the workers' compensation benefits shall be the 
                exclusive remedy for the loss of such worker under this 
                section in the case of bodily injury or death in 
                accordance with such State's workers' compensation law.
                    ``(B) The exclusive remedy prescribed in 
                subparagraph (A) precludes the recovery under paragraph 
                (6) of actual damages for loss from an injury or death 
                but does not preclude other equitable relief, except 
                that such relief shall not include back or front pay or 
                in any manner, directly or indirectly, expand or 
                otherwise alter or affect--
                            ``(i) a recovery under a State workers' 
                        compensation law; or
                            ``(ii) rights conferred under a State 
                        workers' compensation law.
            ``(8) Tolling of statute of limitations.--If it is 
        determined under a State workers' compensation law that the 
        workers' compensation law is not applicable to a claim for 
        bodily injury or death of an H-2A worker, the statute of 
        limitations for bringing an action for actual damages for such 
        injury or death under subsection (c) shall be tolled for the 
        period during which the claim for such injury or death under 
        such State workers' compensation law was pending. The statute 
        of limitations for an action for actual damages or other 
        equitable relief arising out of the same transaction or 
        occurrence as the injury or death of the H-2A worker shall be 
        tolled for the period during which the claim for such injury or 
        death was pending under the State workers' compensation law.
            ``(9) Preclusive effect.--Any settlement by an H-2A worker 
        and an H-2A employer or any person reached through the 
        mediation process required under subsection (c)(1) shall 
        preclude any right of action arising out of the same facts 
        between the parties in any Federal or State court or 
        administrative proceeding, unless specifically provided 
        otherwise in the settlement agreement.
            ``(10) Settlements.--Any settlement by the Secretary of 
        Labor with an H-2A employer on behalf of an H-2A worker of a 
        complaint filed with the Secretary of Labor under this section 
        or any finding by the Secretary of Labor under subsection 
        (a)(1)(B) shall preclude any right of action arising out of the 
        same facts between the parties under any Federal or State court 
        or administrative proceeding, unless specifically provided 
        otherwise in the settlement agreement.
    ``(d) Discrimination Prohibited.--
            ``(1) In general.--It is a violation of this subsection for 
        any person who has filed an application under section 218(a), 
        to intimidate, threaten, restrain, coerce, blacklist, 
        discharge, or in any other manner discriminate against an 
        employee (which term, for purposes of this subsection, includes 
        a former employee and an applicant for employment) because the 
        employee has disclosed information to the employer, or to any 
        other person, that the employee reasonably believes evidences a 
        violation of section 218 or 218A or any rule or regulation 
        pertaining to section 218 or 218A, or because the employee 
        cooperates or seeks to cooperate in an investigation or other 
        proceeding concerning the employer's compliance with the 
        requirements of section 218 or 218A or any rule or regulation 
        pertaining to either of such sections.
            ``(2) Discrimination against h-2a workers.--It is a 
        violation of this subsection for any person who has filed an 
        application under section 218(a), to intimidate, threaten, 
        restrain, coerce, blacklist, discharge, or in any manner 
        discriminate against an H-2A employee because such worker has, 
        with just cause, filed a complaint with the Secretary of Labor 
        regarding a denial of the rights enumerated and enforceable 
        under subsection (b) or instituted, or caused to be instituted, 
        a private right of action under subsection (c) regarding the 
        denial of the rights enumerated under subsection (b), or has 
        testified or is about to testify in any court proceeding 
        brought under subsection (c).
    ``(e) Authorization To Seek Other Appropriate Employment.--The 
Secretary of Labor and the Secretary shall establish a process under 
which an H-2A worker who files a complaint regarding a violation of 
subsection (d) and is otherwise eligible to remain and work in the 
United States may be allowed to seek other appropriate employment in 
the United States for a period not to exceed the maximum period of stay 
authorized for such nonimmigrant classification.
    ``(f) Role of Associations.--
            ``(1) Violation by a member of an association.--An employer 
        on whose behalf an application is filed by an association 
        acting as its agent is fully responsible for such application, 
        and for complying with the terms and conditions of sections 218 
        and 218A, as though the employer had filed the application 
        itself. If such an employer is determined, under this section, 
        to have committed a violation, the penalty for such violation 
        shall apply only to that member of the association unless the 
        Secretary of Labor determines that the association or other 
        member participated in, had knowledge, or reason to know, of 
        the violation, in which case the penalty shall be invoked 
        against the association or other association member as well.
            ``(2) Violations by an association acting as an employer.--
        If an association filing an application as a sole or joint 
        employer is determined to have committed a violation under this 
        section, the penalty for such violation shall apply only to the 
        association unless the Secretary of Labor determines that an 
        association member or members participated in or had knowledge, 
        or reason to know of the violation, in which case the penalty 
        shall be invoked against the association member or members as 
        well.

``SEC. 218D. DEFINITIONS.

    ``For purposes of this section and section 218, 218A, 218B, and 
218C:
            ``(1) Agricultural employment.--The term `agricultural 
        employment' means any service or activity that is considered to 
        be agricultural under section 3(f) of the Fair Labor Standards 
        Act of 1938 (29 U.S.C. 203(f)) or agricultural labor under 
        section 3121(g) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 or the 
        performance of agricultural labor or services described in 
        section 101(a)(15)(H)(ii)(a).
            ``(2) Bona fide union.--The term `bona fide union' means 
        any organization in which employees participate and which 
        exists for the purpose of dealing with employers concerning 
        grievances, labor disputes, wages, rates of pay, hours of 
        employment, or other terms and conditions of work for 
        agricultural employees. Such term does not include an 
        organization formed, created, administered, supported, 
        dominated, financed, or controlled by an employer or employer 
        association or its agents or representatives.
            ``(3) Displace.--The term `displace', in the case of an 
        application with respect to 1 or more H-2A workers by an 
        employer, means laying off a United States worker from a job 
        for which the H-2A worker or workers is or are sought.
            ``(4) Eligible.--The term `eligible', when used with 
        respect to an individual, means an individual who is not an 
        unauthorized alien (as defined in section 274A).
            ``(5) Employer.--The term `employer' means any person or 
        entity, including any farm labor contractor and any 
        agricultural association, that employs workers in agricultural 
        employment.
            ``(6) H-2A employer.--The term `H-2A employer' means an 
        employer who seeks to hire 1 or more nonimmigrant aliens 
        described in section 101(a)(15)(H)(ii)(a).
            ``(7) H-2A worker.--The term `H-2A worker' means a 
        nonimmigrant described in section 101(a)(15)(H)(ii)(a).
            ``(8) Job opportunity.--The term `job opportunity' means a 
        job opening for temporary or seasonal full-time employment at a 
        place in the United States to which United States workers can 
        be referred.
            ``(9) Laying off.--
                    ``(A) In general.--The term `laying off', with 
                respect to a worker--
                            ``(i) means to cause the worker's loss of 
                        employment, other than through a discharge for 
                        inadequate performance, violation of workplace 
                        rules, cause, voluntary departure, voluntary 
                        retirement, contract impossibility (as 
                        described in section 218A(b)(4)(D)), or 
                        temporary suspension of employment due to 
                        weather, markets, or other temporary 
                        conditions; but
                            ``(ii) does not include any situation in 
                        which the worker is offered, as an alternative 
                        to such loss of employment, a similar 
                        employment opportunity with the same employer 
                        (or, in the case of a placement of a worker 
                        with another employer under section 
                        218(b)(2)(E), with either employer described in 
                        such section) at equivalent or higher 
                        compensation and benefits than the position 
                        from which the employee was discharged, 
                        regardless of whether or not the employee 
                        accepts the offer.
                    ``(B) Statutory construction.--Nothing in this 
                paragraph is intended to limit an employee's rights 
                under a collective bargaining agreement or other 
                employment contract.
            ``(10) Regulatory drought.--The term `regulatory drought' 
        means a decision subsequent to the filing of the application 
        under section 218 by an entity not under the control of the 
        employer making such filing which restricts the employer's 
        access to water for irrigation purposes and reduces or limits 
        the employer's ability to produce an agricultural commodity, 
        thereby reducing the need for labor.
            ``(11) Seasonal.--Labor is performed on a `seasonal' basis 
        if--
                    ``(A) ordinarily, it pertains to or is of the kind 
                exclusively performed at certain seasons or periods of 
                the year; and
                    ``(B) from its nature, it may not be continuous or 
                carried on throughout the year.
            ``(12) Secretary.--Except as otherwise provided, the term 
        `Secretary' means the Secretary of Homeland Security.
            ``(13) Temporary.--A worker is employed on a `temporary' 
        basis where the employment is intended not to exceed 10 months.
            ``(14) United states worker.--The term `United States 
        worker' means any worker, whether a national of the United 
        States, an alien lawfully admitted for permanent residence, or 
        any other alien, who is authorized to work in the job 
        opportunity within the United States, except an alien admitted 
        or otherwise provided status under section 
        101(a)(15)(H)(ii)(a).''.
    (b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents of the Immigration 
and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1101 et seq.) is amended by striking the 
item relating to section 218 and inserting the following:

``Sec. 218. H-2A employer applications.
``Sec. 218A. H-2A employment requirements.
``Sec. 218B. Procedure for admission and extension of stay of H-2A 
                            workers.
``Sec. 218C. Worker protections and labor standards enforcement.
``Sec. 218D. Definitions.''.

                  TITLE III--MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS

SEC. 301. DETERMINATION AND USE OF USER FEES.

    (a) Schedule of Fees.--The Secretary shall establish and 
periodically adjust a schedule of fees for the employment of aliens 
pursuant to the amendment made by section 201(a) of this Act and a 
collection process for such fees from employers. Such fees shall be the 
only fees chargeable to employers for services provided under such 
amendment.
    (b) Determination of Schedule.--
            (1) In general.--The schedule under subsection (a) shall 
        reflect a fee rate based on the number of job opportunities 
        indicated in the employer's application under section 218 of 
        the Immigration and Nationality Act, as amended by section 201 
        of this Act, and sufficient to provide for the direct costs of 
        providing services related to an employer's authorization to 
        employ aliens pursuant to the amendment made by section 201(a) 
        of this Act, to include the certification of eligible 
        employers, the issuance of documentation, and the admission of 
        eligible aliens.
            (2) Procedure.--
                    (A) In general.--In establishing and adjusting such 
                a schedule, the Secretary shall comply with Federal 
                cost accounting and fee setting standards.
                    (B) Publication and comment.--The Secretary shall 
                publish in the Federal Register an initial fee schedule 
                and associated collection process and the cost data or 
                estimates upon which such fee schedule is based, and 
                any subsequent amendments thereto, pursuant to which 
                public comment shall be sought and a final rule issued.
    (c) Use of Proceeds.--Notwithstanding any other provision of law, 
all proceeds resulting from the payment of the fees pursuant to the 
amendment made by section 201(a) of this Act shall be available without 
further appropriation and shall remain available without fiscal year 
limitation to reimburse the Secretary, the Secretary of State, and the 
Secretary of Labor for the costs of carrying out--
            (1) sections 218 and 218B of the Immigration and 
        Nationality Act, as amended and added, respectively, by section 
        201 of this Act; and
            (2) the provisions of this Act.

SEC. 302. REGULATIONS.

    (a) Requirement for the Secretary To Consult.--The Secretary shall 
consult with the Secretary of Labor and the Secretary of Agriculture 
during the promulgation of all regulations to implement the duties of 
the Secretary under this Act and the amendments made by this Act.
    (b) Requirement for the Secretary of State To Consult.--The 
Secretary of State shall consult with the Secretary, the Secretary of 
Labor, and the Secretary of Agriculture on all regulations to implement 
the duties of the Secretary of State under this Act and the amendments 
made by this Act.
    (c) Requirement for the Secretary of Labor To Consult.--The 
Secretary of Labor shall consult with the Secretary of Agriculture and 
the Secretary on all regulations to implement the duties of the 
Secretary of Labor under this Act and the amendments made by this Act.
    (d) Deadline for Issuance of Regulations.--All regulations to 
implement the duties of the Secretary, the Secretary of State, and the 
Secretary of Labor created under sections 218, 218A, 218B, 218C, and 
218D of the Immigration and Nationality Act, as amended or added by 
section 201 of this Act, shall take effect on the effective date of 
section 201 and shall be issued not later than 1 year after the date of 
enactment of this Act.

SEC. 303. REPORTS TO CONGRESS.

    (a) Annual Report.--Not later than September 30 of each year, the 
Secretary shall submit a report to Congress that identifies, for the 
previous year--
            (1) the number of job opportunities approved for employment 
        of aliens admitted under section 101(a)(15)(H)(ii)(a) of the 
        Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 
        1101(a)(15)(H)(ii)(a)), and the number of workers actually 
        admitted, disaggregated by State and by occupation;
            (2) the number of such aliens reported to have abandoned 
        employment pursuant to subsection (e)(2) of section 218B of 
        such Act, as added by section 201;
            (3) the number of such aliens who departed the United 
        States within the period specified in subsection (d) of such 
        section 218B;
            (4) the number of aliens who applied for blue card status 
        pursuant to section 101(a);
            (5) the number of aliens who were granted such status 
        pursuant section 101(a);
            (6) the number of aliens who applied for an adjustment of 
        status pursuant to section 103(a); and
            (7) the number of aliens who received an adjustment of 
        status pursuant section 103(a).
    (b) Implementation Report.--Not later than 180 days after the date 
of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall prepare and submit to 
Congress a report that describes the measures being taken and the 
progress made in implementing this Act.

SEC. 304. EFFECTIVE DATE.

    The amendments made by section 201 and section 301 shall take 
effect 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act.
                                 <all>
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