NCAE Legislative Efforts
Our Legislative Efforts
NCAE and its allies continue to work for reforms that will adequately address America’s agricultural labor needs now and in the long-term.
America’s farmers and ranchers face a critical shortage of legally authorized and experienced workers, which negatively impacts our economic competitiveness, local economies, and jobs. Every farm worker engaged in high-value labor-intensive crop and livestock production sustains two to three off-farm but farm dependent jobs. We cannot continue allowing foreign producers to take advantage of our labor crisis.
Find out: what’s proposed right now, our short and long-term goals, and find useful information and links on the state of legislative action around agricultural labor.
Legislative Updates
On May, 22, 2024, Congressman Bill Huizenga sent a letter to House appropriations leaders along with 119 of his colleagues to request an H-2A visa guestworker wage freeze.
On March 25, 2024, H-2A Wage Survey passed in Washington State. The bill requires the State Workforce Agencies(SWA) to verify information on the H-2A application (e.g., workers are staying where they are supposed to be, that worksites are accurately listed) when they do field checks and sets minimum standards to beef up prevailing wage surveys.
On March 22, 2024, the House passed the Further Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2024, which funds all remaining federal agencies through Sept. 30.
On March 7, 2024, the Agriculture Labor Working Group (ALWG) released a final report detailing improvements to the H-2A guest worker program, which include a streamlined process to make labor more affordable for farmers.
On January 29, 2024, Congressman John Moolenaar requested a 2 year freeze on the adverse effect wage rate (AEWR) for H-2A workers.
On July 18, 2023, Congressman Tony Gonzales released the H-2 Improvements to Relieve Employers (HIRE) Act that would expand the labor certification period from 1 to 3 years permanently authorize waiving in-person interviews for returning H-2A workers.
On June 23, 2023, representatives Zoe Lofgren and Dan Newhouse’s released the Farm Workforce Modernization Act (FWMA) that would provide more flexibility for employers in filing, staggering petitions and recruiting, remove the “seasonal” requirement, allow for 3-year visas, reduce housing costs, limit wage fluctuations and reform the H-2A wage calculation.
May 23, 2023, representatives Veronica Escobar and Maria Salazar’s released the Dignity for Immigrants while Guarding our Nation to Ignite and Deliver the American Dream (DIGNIDAD/Dignity) Act. This legislation would streamline the H-2A application process, allow staggered entry, remove the “seasonal” requirements on the H-2A program, and would repeal the AEWR as the formula to calculate wages.
Farm Workforce Modernization Act
Interested in learning more about the recently introduced Farm Workforce Modernization Act? Review the Summary and Myths & Facts documents below.
Summary
Myths and Facts
Our Goals Regarding Legislative Framework
The agricultural industry seeks a legislative framework that provides actionable solutions for agriculture’s labor needs. Including:
- An opportunity for current workers to obtain legal status
- A program to ensure an adequate, productive and competitive agricultural workforce in the future
The resulting worker visa program needs to be market-based and have the flexibility to meet the needs of all producers, including those with year-round labor needs, such as dairy and livestock.
NCAE is proud to participate in the Agriculture Workforce Coalition, a group of leading agricultural associations standing together to work with Congress for positive legislative change that will assure current and future access to farm labor that is fair to workers, farmers, and the consuming public. The Agriculture Workforce Coalition (AWC) brings together organizations representing the diverse needs of agricultural employers across the country. AWC serves as the unified voice of agriculture in the effort to ensure that America’s farmers, ranchers and growers have access to a stable and secure workforce now and in the future.
Useful Links Regarding Agricultural Employment Legislation
The Newhouse-Cuellar Amendment of 2019 proposed improvements to the H-2A Program for non-seasonal agricultural employers.
The Dairy and Sheep H-2A Visa Enhancement Act, proposed by Congressman Brindisi (D-NY) and Congressman Joyce (R-PA), would expand access to the H-2A visa program for dairy workers and sheepherders.
Senate 744 proposed in 2013 was negotiated by a large group of agricultural representatives but failed to move in the House.
House bill 1147 (2015), another enforcement only proposal, proposes mandatory E-Verify use but does not address the current ag workforce or offer a stable/workable future flow.
The BARN Act, reintroduced in 2015, offers some useful elements but does not address the existing workforce, nor is there much chance it could progress.
Latest News on Legislation
Get in Touch
While the NCAE focuses on advocating for Agricultural Employers at the national level, we also aim to serve as a reliable resource for our members. If you have a question or concern, send us a message.