To modify the wage requirements for employers seeking to hire H-2A and blue card agricultural workers.

SA 4009. Mr. CHAMBLISS (for himself and Mr. Isakson) submitted an
amendment intended to be proposed by him to the bill S. 2611, to
provide for comprehensive immigration reform and for other purposes;
which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows:

On page 452, strike line 1 and all that follows through
page 459, line 10, and insert the following:
``(A) In general.--An employer applying to hire H-2A
workers under section 218(a), or utilizing alien workers
under blue card program established under section 613 of the
Comprehensive Immigration Reform Act of 2006, shall offer to
pay, and shall pay, all workers in the occupation for which
the employer has applied for alien workers, not less than
(and is not required to pay more than) the greater of--
``(i) the prevailing wage in the occupation in the area of
intended employment; or
``(ii) the applicable State minimum wage.
``(B) Prevailing wage defined.--In this paragraph, the term
`prevailing wage' means the wage rate that includes the 51st
percentile of employees with similar experience and
qualifications in the agricultural occupation in the area of
intended employment, expressed in terms of the prevailing
rate of pay for the occupation in the area of intended
employment.''.
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