Temporary Agricultural Labor Reform Act of 2007

Bill: 110-hr-1792
Sponsor: Rep. Goodlatte, Bob [R-VA-6]
Introduced: 2007-03-29 in the House
Policy area: Immigration
Subjects: Administrative procedure
Admission of nonimmigrants
Agricultural labor
Agriculture and Food
Alien labor
Aliens
Animals
Civil Rights and Liberties, Minority Issues
Civil actions and liability
Commerce
Dairy industry
Damages
Department of Agriculture
Department of Homeland Security
Disaster relief
Electronic data interchange
Electronic government information
Emergency Management
Employee benefit plans
Employee rights
Employers' liability
Executive reorganization
Fines (Penalties)
Goats
Government Operations and Politics
Illegal aliens
Labor and Employment
Labor disputes
Law
Legal aid
Livestock
Mediation
Ombudsman
Recruiting of employees
Right of property
Science, Technology, Communications
Sheep
Temporary employment
Transfer of employees
Transportation and Public Works
Travel costs
Visas
Wages

Summary:
action_date: 2007-03-29
text: 
Temporary Agricultural Labor Reform Act of 2007 - 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, 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. 
 
Requires the Secretary of Homeland Security to establish a mandatory employment verification program.
 
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: 2007-05-04
text: Executive Comment Requested from Dept of Homeland Security.
action_date: 2007-04-20
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Immigration, Citizenship, Refugees, Border Security, and International Law.
action_date: 2007-03-29
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: 2007-03-29
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: 2007-03-29
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: 2007-03-29
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2007-03-29
text: Introduced in House