ANCHOR: A loophole that allowed foreign workers to take Oregon logging jobs may soon close. Last year more than 250 foreign workers were hired using federal stimulus money, even though thousands of Oregon loggers didn't have jobs. Forest companies exploited a loophole in a foreign worker visa program. But Rep. Peter Defazio and Sen. Jeff Merkley introduced a bill today to stop what they consider abuse of the system.
MERKLEY: All of this was about creating jobs for Americans, and as it turned out this money was spent in Oregon and not a single Oregonian was hired.
ANCHOR: If it becomes a law, the bill would force companies to aggressively advertise for U.S. workers. It would also give the states power to certify the company did all it could possibly do to hire American workers first.