Tenney seeks to modernize H-2A agricultural guest-worker program
Proposed changes include allowing H-2A for dairy farms
Press Release, Congresswoman Claudia Tenney
WASHINGTON, DC — Congresswoman Claudia Tenney (NY-24) today joined House Agriculture Committee Chairman Glenn “GT” Thompson (PA-15) and a bipartisan group of lawmakers in introducing the Securing Agriculture’s Workforce Act, legislation to modernize the H-2A agricultural guest worker program, reduce unnecessary bureaucracy, provide greater certainty for farmers, and help ensure America’s producers have access to the workforce they need to keep the nation’s food supply strong.
For nearly 40 years, the H-2A program has remained largely unchanged despite the evolving needs of American agriculture. As labor shortages continue to challenge farms across the country, producers face increasing difficulty finding enough workers to plant and harvest crops, care for livestock, and maintain safe, reliable food production.
The Securing Agriculture’s Workforce Act would modernize the program by expanding eligibility for temporary agricultural work, including making dairy farms eligible for H-2A, creating a streamlined online application system, simplifying program requirements, and codifying recent reforms to provide greater wage stability and certainty for farmers.
“Farmers across New York and our nation work tirelessly to feed America, but too many are struggling to find the workforce they need to keep their operations running,” Tenney said. “Our outdated H-2A program has created unnecessary costs, delays, and uncertainty that hurt family farms and drive up food prices. For too long, critical industries like dairy have been locked out of the H-2A program.”
The legislation has earned endorsements from more than 385 organizations representing farmers, ranchers, agricultural employers, commodity groups, food producers, and businesses nationwide, including New York Farm Bureau, U.S. Apple Association, International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA), National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF), and dozens of other leading agricultural organizations.
“We appreciate Representative Tenney’s sponsorship of the Securing Agriculture’s Workforce Act. This legislation includes long overdue improvements to the H-2A guest worker program, among other much-needed changes to the agricultural labor system. We value Representative Tenney’s continued leadership and support for New York farmers.” – New York Farm Bureau President David Fisher
“New York apple growers know firsthand that a reliable workforce is essential to keeping orchards productive. We appreciate Rep. Tenney’s leadership in advancing long-overdue H-2A reforms that will help ensure growers have the workers they need to continue growing apples in New York and across America.” – U.S. Apple Association President & CEO Jim Bair
“The Securing Agriculture’s Workforce Act represents the most significant reform to the ag workforce we’ve seen in decades. It’s particularly critical for dairy farmers, who have been effectively shut out of the H-2A program, the main U.S. farmworker visa. The bill would stabilize the dairy workforce by allowing H-2A contracts of up to 350 days and providing a targeted mechanism for current dairy workers to transition to a viable visa program. We thank Congresswoman Tenney for joining Chairman Thompson in the Securing Agriculture’s Workforce Act, and we look forward to working with these congressional champions and all of agriculture to get this bill to the president’s desk.” – Gregg Doud, President and CEO, National Milk Producers Federation
“International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA) thanks Representative Tenney for co-sponsoring the Securing Agriculture Workforce Act and supporting commonsense guestworker reform for U.S. dairy. Dairy farms and processors alike operate year-round and need access to a reliable workforce. Modernizing the H-2A program to meet the needs of year-round dairy farm operations moves the needle in the right direction by strengthening the dairy supply chain. Although dairy processors also need reforms that offer workforce support, the Securing Agriculture Workforce Act better positions all of U.S. dairy to ensure families continue to have access to nutritious dairy products.” – International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA)
