A bipartisan coalition of U.S. legislators has reintroduced the Farm Workforce Modernization Act, H.R. 3227, aiming to reform the H-2A agricultural guest worker program. The bill seeks to provide stability for both farms and farmworkers.
Representative Zoe Lofgren of California, a key figure in the bill's reintroduction, stated, "It is well past time we get this bipartisan legislation, twice passed by the House of Representatives, to the President's desk." Joining her were representatives Dan Newhouse of Washington, Mike Simpson of Idaho, and Californians Jim Costa, David Valadao, and Adam Gray.
Newhouse emphasized the bill's role in facilitating ongoing negotiations, while Valadao noted, "The current H-2A program doesn't meet the labor needs of many producers, but the Farm Workforce Modernization Act is a positive step to addressing our agriculture workforce needs and securing our food supply chain."
The bill, crafted with input from farmers, agricultural stakeholders, labor organizations, and farmworker advocates, was first passed by the House in December 2019, marking a milestone in agricultural labor reform since 1986. Since then, efforts have continued to advance the bill through legislative channels.
Proponents of the bill argue for the necessity of reforming the existing H-2A program. They highlight the bill's potential to enhance employer flexibility while safeguarding worker protections, establish pathways for agricultural workers to gain legal status, and adjust the program to better accommodate employers' needs, including those requiring year-round labor.
Source: Citrus Industry