House Passes Farm Workforce Modernization Act
The House of Representatives on March 18 passed H.R. 1603, the Farm Workforce Modernization Act by a 247-174 vote.
Backed by numerous agricultural groups, the legislation was introduced Rep. Newhouse, R-Wash, with Rep. Zoe Lofgren, D-Calif,, to ensure a legal and reliable workforce for American agriculture, according to a news release.
“In the first two and a half months of 2021, illegal immigration has reached a crisis point. In order to maintain the rule of law and keep criminals out of our country, Congress must continue working to enhance our border security,” Newhouse said in the release. “One way to enhance our border security is the Farm Workforce Modernization Act, which is the bipartisan, targeted labor solution our agriculture industry needs. By creating a viable and desperately-needed agriculture labor program, we are removing opportunities to work illegally in the United States, strengthening our border security, and ensuring we have a reliable, legal workforce for our farms and ranches for years to come.”
Lofgren said in the release that the legislation will stabilize the agricultural workforce and protect the future of U.S. farms and the food supply.
“The Farm Workforce Modernization Act accomplishes this by providing a path to legal status for farmworkers and updating and streamlining the H-2A temporary worker visa program while ensuring fair wages and working conditions for all workers,” Lofgren said in the release. “I look forward to working with Senators on both sides of the aisle to get this bipartisan legislation that serves the best interests of our country to the President’s desk.”
The National Potato Council praised the House action on the legislation.
“Yesterday’s bipartisan passage of the Farm Workforce Modernization Act sends a strong message that the time to address agricultural labor reform is now,” RJ Andrus, National Potato Council’s vice president of legislative affairs, said in a news release. “Last Congress, NPC and our partners throughout the agricultural industry were disheartened when the Senate was unable to move forward on ag labor reform. We are now focused on keeping the up momentum and are grateful that Senators Crapo and Bennet have committed to working together to introduce a bill in the Senate to ensure growers and workers are provided long-term certainty, security, and competitiveness.”
Bill sponsors say the legislation will:
- Establish a program for agricultural workers in the United States to earn legal status through continued agricultural employment and contribution to the U.S. agricultural economy;
- Reform the H-2A program to provide more flexibility for employers, while ensuring critical protections for workers. The bill focuses on modifications to make the program more responsive and user-friendly for employers and provides access to the program for industries with year-round labor needs; and
- Establish mandatory, nationwide E-Verify system for all agricultural employment with a structured phase-in and guaranteed due process for authorized workers who are incorrectly rejected by the system.
