Key Takeaways
- House Agriculture Committee Chairman Glenn Thompson is set to introduce the Securing Agriculture’s Workforce Act (SAWA) to improve the agricultural labor landscape.
- The proposed legislation aims to expand the H-2A guest visa program to address ongoing worker shortages in the agricultural sector.
- A coalition of agricultural groups views the bill as a significant opportunity for comprehensive reform in farm labor practices.
New Farm Labor Legislation on the Horizon
After years of stalled attempts, agricultural organizations, particularly Western Growers, are keen to see if the latest House Agriculture Committee bill can make significant progress. Dave Puglia, president of Western Growers, expressed optimism about the potential for change, stating that “hope springs eternal.”
Chairman Glenn “GT” Thompson plans to formally present the Securing Agriculture’s Workforce Act (SAWA) on June 30. He has been actively working to gather bipartisan support for the bill, which aims to bolster the U.S. agricultural workforce. Provisions in the bill are influenced by recommendations from the Agricultural Labor Working Group formed by the House agricultural committee.
The legislation notably seeks to enhance the H-2A visa program, which allows employers to recruit foreign laborers for temporary agricultural roles. Puglia highlighted that the bill does a “lot of good” for the H-2A program but emphasized that further work is necessary regarding undocumented workers. There is a strong desire among agricultural stakeholders to see the bill progress from the House to the Senate.
Thompson’s draft includes significant changes to the H-2A program, proposing to redefine “temporary” work as employment contracted for fewer than 350 days. This change would allow more dairy producers to utilize the H-2A program. However, the proposed expansion is a contentious issue; while many farm owners advocate for more foreign labor due to current worker shortages, some Republicans remain skeptical about increasing foreign employment opportunities.
Passing this bill in the House could be a notable success, although the path through Congress is expected to be challenging. The Ag Wage Reform Coalition, comprising 36 organizations across nine states, has voiced strong support for the draft, addressing critical issues facing labor-intensive sectors like fruit and vegetable farming. Chris Butts, a spokesperson for the coalition, remarked that it presents the best chance for comprehensive reform in the H-2A program in recent years. He emphasized the extreme reliance of agricultural production in Georgia on H-2A, stating, “Without those workers, we don’t have an industry in Georgia.”
Overall, the landscape of farm labor legislation remains dynamic, with agricultural organizations uniting in hopes of more effective and supportive policies to address prolonged worker shortages and related challenges.
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