Temporary Agricultural Labor Reform Act of 2005

Bill: 109-hr-3857
Sponsor: Rep. Goodlatte, Bob [R-VA-6]
Introduced: 2005-09-22 in the House
Policy area: Immigration
Subjects: Administrative fees
Administrative remedies
Admission of nonimmigrants
Advertising
Agricultural labor
Agricultural subsidies
Agriculture and Food
Alien labor
Aliens
Civil Rights and Liberties, Minority Issues
Commuting
Crime and Law Enforcement
Criminal aliens
Criminal justice information
Data banks
Department of Agriculture
Department of Homeland Security
Directories
Disaster relief
Disasters
Dismissal of employees
Economics and Public Finance
Emergency Management
Employee rights
Executive reorganization
Fines (Penalties)
Fraud
Government Operations and Politics
Government paperwork
Government publicity
Housing and Community Development
Identification devices
Identification of criminals
Illegal aliens
Labor and Employment
Labor contracts
Law
Legal aid
Mediation
Minimum wages
Ombudsman
Public records
Recruiting of employees
Relocation
Residence requirements
Right of property
Science, Technology, Communications
Seasonal labor
Temporary employment
Transfer of employees
Transportation and Public Works
Travel costs
Visas
Wage restitution
Wages

Summary:
action_date: 2005-09-22
text: 
Temporary Agricultural Labor Reform Act of 2003 - Amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to revise employer and employee association application requirements for admission of H-2A temporary agricultural workers, including assurances: (1) that the job opportunity is temporary or seasonal, and is not the result of a labor dispute; (2) that attempts have been made to hire U.S. workers; (3) respecting wages and benefits, and labor law compliance; (4) respecting nondisplacement of U.S. workers; and (5) respecting placement with other employers. 
 
Revises related provisions respecting: (1) penalties; and (2) admissions and extensions of stay. Provides special provisions for alien sheepherders, goatherders, and dairy workers.
 
Amends the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act to: (1) authorize the Secretary of Agriculture to make grants to H-2A employers for the transportation costs of workers whose employment is cut short by natural disaster; and (2) direct the Secretary to establish an H-2A Worker Program Ombudsman within the Office of the Chief Economist of the Department of Agriculture.
 
Amends the Immigrant Reform and Control Act of 1986 to limit the conditions under which the Legal Services Corporation may: (1) provide legal assistance for, or on behalf of, any alien; (2) bring a civil action for damages on behalf of an H-2A nonimmigrant (requires prior mediation); and (3) enter onto an employer's property.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2005-10-17
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Immigration, Border Security, and Claims.
action_date: 2005-09-22
text: Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committee on Agriculture, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2005-09-22
text: Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committee on Agriculture, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2005-09-22
text: Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committee on Agriculture, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2005-09-22
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR E1928)
action_date: 2005-09-22
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2005-09-22
text: Introduced in House