Rep. Goodlatte's guest worker plan would replace H-2A
WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Representative Bob Goodlatte, R-Va., plans to introduce the Agricultural Guestworker Act next week, which would replace the H-2A program that many fresh produce growers use for labor.
Speaking Sept. 19 at the United Fresh Produce Association’s Washington Conference via video, the chairman of the House Judiciary Committee said the AG Act would reduce red tape for growers and significantly improve on H-2A.
He said the goal is to introduce it to the judiciary committee the week of Sept. 25 and then work on a mark-up shortly after that.
Goodlatte was formerly chairman of the agriculture committee in the House and is familiar with the produce industry’s labor struggles.
Among other things, the bill would include greater access to guest workers without a pathway to citizenship, higher wages (15% above a state’s minimum wage), no requirement for worker housing and transportation, and allow currently illegal farmworkers to participate in the program.
“The need (for farmworkers) is greater than ever,” Goodlatte said.
“The AG Act replaces the H-2A program with a more efficient and flexible guest worker program — known as H2-C — that is designed to meet the needs of the diverse agriculture industry,” Goodlatte said previously. “The H2-C program will be administered by the folks at the U.S. Department of Agriculture, an agency that clearly understands the unique needs of America’s farm and ranch operations and the importance of getting perishable agricultural commodities to market in an efficient manner.”
Goodlatte said this is a good time politically to work on such a proposal, because enforcement is a critical part and President Donald Trump said Congress has six months to find a solution to the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals policy.
He said Trump is an ally for the produce industry on this policy since he said he understands the business need and access to legal guestworkers.
Goodlatte said he tried to impress on Congress its importance while on the ag committee.
“The ag committee isn’t important, unless you eat,” he said.
In a labor workshop at the United Fresh event, speakers said ag labor solutions could also arise in renegotiations of NAFTA or in farm bill negotiations.
