WASHINGTON – Today, Congressman David Valadao (CA-22) joined Reps. Zoe Lofgren (CA-18), Dan Newhouse (WA-04), Mike Simpson (ID-02), Jim Costa (CA-21), and Adam Gray (CA-13) to reintroduce the Farm Workforce Modernization Act. This bill, which passed the House of Representatives with strong bipartisan support in the 116th and 117th Congresses, updates the H-2A agricultural guest worker program and is a compromise solution that provides needed stability for farmers and farmworkers. Congressman Valadao was a co-lead of the bill in the 118th Congress and a co-sponsor in the 117th Congress.

“Central Valley farmers are the backbone of our nation’s agricultural industry, but they continue to face serious challenges finding and retaining a reliable workforce,” said Congressman Valadao. “The current H-2A program doesn’t meet the labor needs of many producers, but the Farm Workforce Modernization Act is a positive step to addressing our agriculture workforce needs and securing our food supply chain. Food security is national security, and I look forward to continuing to work with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to find long-term solutions that support our farmers and strengthen our food supply chain.”

“The men and women who work America’s farms feed the nation. However, in the past few years, we’ve seen labor shortages contribute to high food prices,” said Rep. Lofgren. “As economic chaos and confusion continues, it is essential we provide stability to this critical workforce. The Farm Workforce Modernization Act would do so, which will protect the future of our farms and our food supply. It is well-past time we get this bipartisan legislation twice passed by the House of Representatives to the President’s desk.”

“The workforce crisis has come to a boiling point for farmers across the country. Reintroducing the Farm Workforce Modernization Act sends a clear message to farmers that we are working hard to find solutions that ease the burdens brought on by the current state of the H-2A program. This legislation is necessary to lay the groundwork for continued negotiations, and I am committed to working closely with my colleagues to enact long-term, durable reforms to our agriculture guest worker programs. This issue has been, and remains, my top priority and unified Republican government is an opportunity to deliver for our farmers and ranchers,” said Rep. Newhouse.

"The workforce crisis is the most important issue facing agriculture in our country," said Rep. Simpson. "Supporting American agriculture means providing a stable, reliable, and legal workforce, and this legislative solution addresses one of the most pressing concerns our farmers and ranchers face. Now that we finally have an administration taking the border crisis seriously, Congress must address this issue and enact necessary reforms. It is well past time we solve this problem. I look forward to working with my colleagues and getting this critical legislation across the finish line to President Trump's desk for his signature."

“American agriculture depends on a reliable workforce and nowhere is that more true than in California’s San Joaquin Valley, where farmworkers are the backbone of our economy. This legislation is a common-sense, bipartisan solution that provides stability for our farmers and dignity for the workers who feed America. If President Trump is serious about fixing our broken immigration system, he should work with us to get this bill across the finish line,” said Congressman Costa. 

“Farm workers and the larger agricultural community are the backbone of the Central Valley’s economy,” said Congressman Gray. “Labor shortages on our farms could lead to higher food prices across the country and the Valley cannot afford to be shorthanded. This commonsense bipartisan bill would stabilize our vital workforce and make sure Valley farmers can continue to feed families across the country.”

The Farm Workforce Modernization Act would:

• Reform the H-2A program to provide more flexibility for employers, while ensuring critical protections for workers.
• Establish a program for agricultural workers in the United States to choose to earn legal status through continued agricultural employment and contribution to the U.S. agricultural economy.
• Focus on modification to make the program more responsive and user-friendly for employers and provides access to the program for industries with year-round labor needs.

Read the full bill here.

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