WASHINGTON, DC – House Agriculture Committee Chairman GT Thompson has introduced legislation aimed at making the H-2A farmworker program more usable for year-round agriculture.
The Securing Agriculture’s Workforce Act would change program eligibility from temporary or seasonal work to temporary work with contracts lasting less than 350 days.
That could provide clearer access for dairy, livestock, aquaculture, forestry, controlled-environment agriculture, equine operations, and some meat and poultry processing. Supporters say current rules no longer fit farms that need labor beyond narrow harvest seasons.
The bill also addresses costs and paperwork. It would create multi-year labor and housing certifications, limit annual changes to the adverse effect wage rate, allow worker transfers between certified employers, and require a single online H-2A platform.
The proposal includes heat illness prevention plans and a limited waiver process for certain current agricultural workers seeking H-2A status. It does not include a pathway to citizenship.
Farm-Level Takeaway: Producers should track H-2A reform because labor access, wage rules, housing costs, and paperwork delays directly affect farm operations.