House Sends Bipartisan Farm Workforce Modernization Act to the Senate

Press Release

Today, H.R. 1603, the Farm Workforce Modernization Act, a bipartisan bill spearheaded by Reps. Zoe Lofgren (D-CA-19) and Dan Newhouse (R-WA-04), passed the U.S. House of Representatives with a 247-174 vote.

The bill provides a compromise solution by permitting farmworkers--and their spouses and children--to earn legal status through continued employment in the agricultural sector, and would make changes to the H-2A agricultural guest worker program.

"The men and women who work America's farms feed the nation. But many of them do so while living and working in a state of uncertainty and fear, which has only been heightened by the COVID-19 pandemic," said Rep. Zoe Lofgren. "Stabilizing the workforce will protect the future of our farms and our 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. 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 Farm Workforce Modernization Act 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," said Rep. Dan Newhouse. "Today's passage marks an important step forward for farmers, ranchers, and farmworkers. I look forward to working with my colleagues in the Senate to get it to the President's desk, and deliver historic and meaningful reforms for American agriculture."

Source