NASHVILLE, TN (RFD News) — Specialty crop groups are backing the Securing Agriculture’s Workforce Act, a new House bill aimed at reforming the H-2A temporary agricultural worker program. The Ag Wage Reform Coalition says the measure would help stabilize labor costs and protect domestic fruit, vegetable, nursery, and horticulture production.
House Agriculture Committee Chairman G.T. Thompson introduced the bill after years of stalled farm labor efforts. Congress previously saw House passage of the Newhouse-Lofgren Farm Workforce Modernization Act in 2019 and 2021, followed by Senate work led by Colorado Sen. Michael Bennet.
The new bill focuses on expanded workforce access, streamlined applications, one online portal, multi-year labor certifications and housing inspections, and wage reforms designed to improve predictability.
For growers, the issue is tied directly to harvest risk and food security. Labor shortages and rising H-2A costs can push production offshore and increase reliance on imported produce.
The legislation still faces the same challenge that has blocked earlier efforts: moving a farm labor package through both chambers. Specialty crop groups say reform is needed before more domestic capacity is lost.
