Opinion ID: 76387
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Purpose of the AWPA

Text: 19 In 1983, Congress enacted the Migrant and Seasonal Agricultural Worker Protection Act to remove the restraints on commerce caused by activities detrimental to migrant and seasonal agricultural workers ... and to assure necessary protections for migrant and seasonal agricultural workers.... 29 U.S.C. § 1801; see also Martinez-Mendoza v. Champion Int'l Corp., 340 F.3d 1200, 1207 (11th Cir.2003). The AWPA requires agricultural employers to register with the government; maintain employment records; and comply with various compensation, housing, and transportation provisions. 3 See 29 U.S.C. §§ 1811-1844. Anyone aggrieved as a result of an employer's failure to fulfill these responsibilities may bring a private right of action in a United States district court, for both legal and equitable relief. 29 U.S.C. § 1854(a), (c). 20 When determining to whom Congress intended the act to apply, we look to the AWPA's predecessor, the Farm Labor Contractor Registration Act of 1963, codified as amended at 7 U.S.C. § 2041 et seq. (FLCRA) (repealed 1983). The FLCRA was the first major federal effort to improve the conditions for agricultural laborers, who are among the most exploited groups in the American labor force, S.Rep. No. 93-1295, at 1-3 (1974), reprinted in 1974 U.S.C.C.A.N. 6441, 6441-43, because they suffer chronic low wages, long hours and poor working conditions. H.R.Rep. No. 97-885, at 1 (1982), reprinted in 1982 U.S.C.C.A.N. 4547, 4547. Congress recognized that agricultural laborers are generally at the mercy of their employers as to the conditions and terms of their employment because of virtually insurmountable economic, social, educational, language, and cultural barriers. Caro-Galvan, 993 F.2d at 1505-06 (citing W. Gary Vause, The Farm Labor Contractor Registration Act, 11 Stetson L.Rev. 185, 198 (1982)). 21 In 1982, Congress substituted the AWPA for the FLCRA because the FLCRA had failed to aid exploited agricultural laborers, yet was hampering agricultural employers with its onerous registration requirements. Id.; H.R.Rep. No. 97-885, 1982 U.S.C.C.A.N. at 4549. To ease the burden on agricultural employers, the AWPA eliminated many of the registration requirements. The AWPA did not, however, narrow the class of workers entitled to protection against exploitation. See Caro-Galvan, 993 F.2d at 1505-06. Thus, the AWPA encompasses all activities covered by the FLCRA. Id. 22 The AWPA also expands coverage to include additional activities not previously protected by the FLCRA. Bresgal v. Brock, 843 F.2d 1163, 1168 (9th Cir.1987). Congress's intent to expand the protections accorded to agricultural workers is evidenced by the purpose and text of the AWPA. The purpose of the AWPA was to provide coverage to all aspects of commerce in agriculture. S.Rep. No. 93-1295, 1974 U.S.C.C.A.N. at 6448. These words suggest a general broadening of the definition of agricultural employment. Bresgal, 843 F.2d at 1167. In addition, the amendment is entitled, in relevant part, the ... Agricultural Worker Protection Act whereas its predecessor was directed principally at Farm Labor[ers]. Furthermore, the AWPA added the third definition of agricultural employment, which applies to certain activities regardless of their location. Because the handling ... of any agricultural ... commodity, if performed on a farm, is within the original definition of agricultural employment, this third definition would be redundant if Congress had not intended to expand the protections afforded to agricultural workers beyond those working on farms. Bracamontes, 840 F.2d at 275-76; Bresgal, 843 F.2d at 1166-68 (stating that it is inconceivable that Congress intended to protect workers planting fruit trees in an orchard, and to disregard workers planting fir trees on a hillside, when both groups suffer from the same clearly identified harm). 23 Accordingly, we conclude that Congress intended to expand the definition of agriculture and agricultural employment to include activities, regardless of their location, not previously covered by the FLCRA. We also conclude, for the reasons that follow, that this expanded definition of agriculture encompasses the raking, gathering, baling, and loading of pine straw in this case.