"Despite budget uncertainties," USDAsays it remains focused on strengthening the rural economy.
"The intended purpose of these loans and grants is to increase the number of available housing units for domestic farm laborers," said the notice in the Federal Register.
A domestic farm laborer is defined in federal law as either a citizen of the United States or someone who has been "legally admitted for permanent residence." Farm workers who are admitted under the Temporary Agricultural Workers (H-2A Visa) program are not eligible for the housing.
But in his funding announcement, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack urged Congress to pass an immigration bill that would put millions of illegal aliens, including many itinerant farm-workers, on a pathway to citizenship.
"USDA's Farm Labor Housing Program is the only national source of construction funds to buy, build or improve housing for farmworkers, who are critical to the tremendous productivity of American agriculture," Vilsack said
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