U.S. Rep. Monica De La Cruz (TX-15) recently introduced the Bracero Program 2.0 Act. De La Cruz says this legislation aims to stabilize the agricultural workforce and disincentivize illegal border crossings by reforming and streamlining the H-2A visa program.
De La Cruz, who served on the House Committee on Agriculture’s Bipartisan Ag Labor Working Group, says the Bracero Program 2.0 Act includes many of the policy recommendations from the group’s final report as well as farmers who participated in an ag labor roundtable she hosted earlier this year.
“For decades, the Bracero Program created new opportunities for millions and provided critical support for Texas agriculture,” De La Cruz says. “I am leading efforts to revive the Bracero spirit by reforming H-2A visas. This will provide solutions desperately needed for hard-working immigrants. With workforce shortages challenging our communities, the Bracero Program 2.0 will bring stability and certainty for South Texas.”
De La Cruz says the Bracero Program 2.0 Act will:
- Streamline the H-2A application process into a single, centralized electronic portal, reducing administrative burden, time and costs for employers participating in the program.
- Expand the H-2A program to include greenhouses and indoor farms.
- Ensure fair and predictable compensation for H-2A workers by setting the wage rate to the state’s minimum wage plus $2 per hour.
- Extend H-2A contracts from 10 months or less to 12 months.
- Provide workers with a regional labor permit valid for agricultural work within a specified state, allowing permit holders to change employers in the same sector without reapplying for a visa.
- Ensure accountability by requiring the GAO to report on H-2A Program Integrity within one year.
- Prioritize the safety of workers by requiring the GAO to report on H-2A Worker Protections and Enforcement, including any workplace violations, unsafe working conditions, unsafe living conditions and underpayment of wages.
