Congress will once again take up the agricultural guest-worker, or more popularly known as the “AgJobs” bill, this week. Approximately two months after the comprehensive immigration reform legislation failed in the Senate, the AgJobs bill is now being driven by pure need. According to DHS estimates, approximately one-third or more of U.S. farm workers are in this country illegally.

While the comprehensive immigration reform (or “CIR”) legislation failed in Congress, the AgJobs bill has a real chance of passing in this Congress and before all attention turns to the 2008 presidential election. The AgJobs bill would be attached to the Senate’s version of the Farm Bill. The House of Representatives has already passed its version of a farm bill, but without immigration provisions.

The Senate’s AgJobs bill (S.1645) is the result of negotiations between farmers and the United Farm Workers. The legislation was first introduced in September 2003, and now enjoys the support of Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.). Currently, thirty senators currently co-sponsor the AgJobs bill. If passed in the Senate, the House of Representatives would then have to approve its own version of the bill.  House Speaker Nancy Pelosi would be charged with achieving that task.

As currently proposed, the AgJobs legislation would provide for a path to legal residency, and eventually U.S. citizenship, to 1.5 million undocumented immigrants now working in the agriculture field. The proposed legislation would also streamline an existing guest-worker program (i.e., the H-2A visa program).

For the Senate schedule, go to: http://www.senate.gov/pagelayout/legislative/d_three_sections_with_teasers/calendars.htm