MEMORANDUM

To: AHC Organizations

From: American Horse Council
1616 H Street NW 7th Floor
Washington DC 20006
202-296-4031
Fax 202-296-1970
Email: AHC@horsecouncil.org
Web Address: www.horsecouncil.org

Re: AgJOBS Bill

Date: November 1, 2007

The Senate is scheduled to consider the Farm Bill next week. Efforts will be made to offer the Agricultural Job Opportunities, Benefits and Security Act of 2007, better known as AgJOBS, as an amendment to that bill during consideration. AgJOBS (S.340) is a comprehensive solution to many of the industry’s immigration problems with respect to H-2A workers at our horse breeding farms and ranches. Please contact your Senators in support of including the AgJOBS bill in the Farm Bill or on any other legislation that may be considered and passed.

Attached is a draft letter that you can fax to your Senators and that you can pass on to your members asking them to do the same. To identify your Senator and his/her fax number please call the AHC or visit the Senate website at http://www.senate.gov/.

Also attached are talking points if you should call your Senator’s office. Each may be reached at 202-224-3121.

Please call with any questions. Thank you.

SAMPLE DRAFT

November [XX], 2007

The Honorable [XXXXX]
United States Senate
Washington, DC 20510

Dear Senator:

The [organization, farm or individual] asks you to support the inclusion of the Agricultural Job Opportunities, Benefits and Security Act of 2007 (AgJOBS) (S. 340) in any appropriate legislation that the Senate may consider, including the Farm Bill. This bill is supported by all aspects of the horse industry, as well as other labor-intensive segments of America’s agricultural industries.

While the horse industry relies on American workers whenever possible, breeding and raising America’s horses cannot be accomplished without the important labor provided by foreign workers. While we strongly support passage of the Farm Bill, its benefits for horse breeders and ranchers will not be fully realized without enactment of AgJOBS. Farm programs as well as farm workers are essential to maintain a healthy horse industry and agriculture industry.

The [organization, farm or individual] includes [XXXX] members who are involved in the agri-business of breeding and raising horses. The U.S. horse industry has a total economic impact of $102 billion on the U.S. economy, supports 1.4 million jobs, pays $2 billion in taxes and includes 4.7 million Americans. It all relies on the agri-business of breeding and raising horses, which by itself has a $12 billion economic impact, supports nearly 200,000 jobs and involves over 1 million horses. [Include any economic information that you have, such as workers employed, salaries, the economic effects, etc. in your state or by yourself. Explain your operation and any related figures.]

In order to maintain this industry, we rely on foreign workers who provide both semi-skilled and entry-level labor in jobs American workers are not filling. Targeted reform bills, such as AgJOBS (S. 340), would overhaul and streamline the current system. It would also allow existing workers to transition into legal status under very restrictive conditions without sharply disrupting the many American breeding and ranching facilities that rely on them.

AgJOBS is a comprehensive solution to our foreign worker issues. Please take it up immediately, whether as freestanding legislation or by including it on any appropriate legislative vehicle, including the Farm Bill.

Sincerely,

TALKING POINTS IN SUPPORT OF AGJOBS

• Despite our best efforts to recruit U.S. workers, horse owners, breeders and training facilities need legal H-2A foreign workers to fill temporary positions involving the production, training and care of horses.
• The horse industry employs many American workers. But there are not enough to fill all positions, including some in what are termed semi-skilled jobs, but which are in reality positions requiring familiarity with horses. These jobs are important to our industry and to the health and welfare of our horses.
• Before alien workers can be hired, a formal application process must be completed through state and federal agencies which certify that there are not enough Americans workers to fill the needed positions.
• The horse industry relies on the H-2A program as it is the only way it can legally hire alien workers for temporary positions when they cannot find Americans for the job.
• Without the manpower provided by H-2A seasonal short-term workers, the horse industry could not operate or would be short-staffed. This could result in the termination of other jobs in the industry filled by U.S. workers.
• AgJOBS would streamline the admission process, correct the required wage rate and provide a realistic means for trained and experienced workers, who may lack proper legal status, to earn such status subject to conditions like future work and lawful behavior.
• Please support AgJOBS and pass it as freestanding legislation or by including it on any appropriate legislative vehicle, including the Farm Bill.