BILL REQ. #:  H-2820.1 

Read first time 03/30/09.   Referred to Committee on Commerce & Labor.

     TO THE HONORABLE BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, AND TO THE PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE AND THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, AND TO THE SENATE AND HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE UNITED STATES, IN CONGRESS ASSEMBLED:
     We, your Memorialists, the Senate and House of Representatives of the State of Washington, in legislative session assembled, respectfully represent and petition as follows:
     WHEREAS, Agriculture is a cornerstone of Washington's economy and farm workers are an essential part of Washington's agricultural industry; and
     WHEREAS, Agriculture created over eight billion dollars in on-farm production value and employed over a hundred thousand workers in 2007; and
     WHEREAS, Large sectors of Washington agriculture are labor-intensive and rely on seasonal and immigrant workers to perform vital labor; and
     WHEREAS, The Washington agricultural industry requires access to a legal and stable workforce, and Washington farm workers require legal and stable employment; and
     WHEREAS, Immigration reform is required to protect the viability of Washington's agricultural industry and thousands of immigrant farm workers who feed our nation and contribute to Washington's economy; and
     WHEREAS, There is an urgent need for immigration reform as proposed in the federal Agricultural Job Opportunities, Benefits and Security (AgJOBS) Act that would: Provide temporary legal status for qualifying farm workers, with the possibility of becoming permanent residents of the United States by continuing to work in agriculture and meeting other requirements; and reform the H-2A temporary visa program in a way that makes it useable for employers and protective of United States and foreign workers;
     NOW, THEREFORE, Your Memorialists respectfully pray that the United States Congress enact the AgJOBS legislation to address the need for immigration reform to protect the agricultural industry and farm workers.
     BE IT RESOLVED, That copies of this Memorial be immediately transmitted to the Honorable Barack Obama, President of the United States, the President of the United States Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and each member of Congress from the State of Washington.