“Ready to collaborate with Congress and President Trump to deliver certainty for farmers, workers, and lower prices for American consumers.”
Washington, DC – Today, American Business Immigration Coalition CEO Rebecca Shi and agriculture industry leaders applaud the reintroduction of the Farm Workforce Modernization Act by a bipartisan group of Members of Congress. On the heels of President Trump’s comments acknowledging the critical role immigrant workers play in agriculture, who make up 68% of the industry’s workforce, this legislation would create a legal process for hardworking, tax-paying farmworkers to stay in the United States.
“ABIC applauds Representatives Newhouse, Lofgren, Simpson, Costa, Gray, and Valadao for their continued leadership in championing farmers and rural communities through the reintroduction of the Farm Workforce Modernization Act (FWMA),” said American Business Immigration Coalition CEO Rebecca Shi. “We are encouraged to see bipartisan urgency in addressing this issue, echoing President Trump’s call for immediate action after hearing directly from farmers about the dedication of their immigrant workers. ABIC is ready to collaborate with Congress and President Trump to deliver certainty for farmers, workers, and lower prices for American consumers.”
“The Farm Workforce Modernization Act is more than an agricultural reform—it’s a commitment to the future of our farms, ranches, and feed yards and the people who power them,” said Matt Teagarden, CEO of Kansas Livestock Association, and ABIC agricultural Council co-chairman. “Our agricultural workforce is the foundation of our nation’s food supply. By addressing both immediate labor needs and long-term workforce sustainability, this bill ensures that America’s agricultural industry remains a global leader.”
“We are encouraged by the reintroduction of the Farm Workforce Modernization Act,” said Bob Jones, owner and operator of The Chef’s Garden, Ohio. “For over 45 years, our family vegetable farm in Ohio has relied on a seasonal team from Mexico. This legislation would provide us with a more streamlined process to bring legal workers to support our work in Ohio. The current H-2A system we use is far from ideal. Bipartisan efforts—along with support from leaders, including President Trump—to secure both our borders and our workforce represent a much-needed and welcome opportunity for farmers and farm workers across the United States.”
“Our mushroom growers operate year-round, and without a viable solution, our farms will continue to face insurmountable challenges,” expressed American Mushroom Institute President Rachel Roberts, Pennsylvania. “The reintroduction of the Farm Workforce Modernization Act is a practical step forward, especially given the bipartisan interest in securing our workforce. Workforce security is food security, and food security is national security. After 30 years without a meaningful solution, this legislation is critical to sustaining the over 20,000 mushroom employees, who power our industry across the United States.”
“The reintroduction of the Farm Workforce Modernization Act is exactly the step forward my business needs,” said Janille Baker, controller at Baker Ranches Inc, Utah and Nevada. “At Baker Ranches, we depend on an immigrant workforce to ensure our success. This legislation presents an opportunity to tackle the challenges we face and pave the way for a more secure, stable, and sustainable future—not just for our workforce and the agricultural industry as a whole, but especially for family-run operations like ours.”
“Here in Indiana, immigrant workers make up 70% of the workforce at some dairies, and immigrants account for a large portion of dairy farm workers statewide,” stated Steve Obert, dairy producer and executive director of Indiana Dairy Producers. “Without a solution to ensure we have a reliable, legal workforce, the challenges we face will only worsen, jeopardizing our ability to keep milk on America’s tables. The Farm Workforce Modernization Act provides a much-needed opportunity to secure the workforce our industry depends on and to ensure the sustainability of dairy farming.”
For additional information about ABIC or inquiries about interviews with these business leaders, please reach out to abicpress@fgsglobal.com
Newhouse, Bipartisan Coalition Introduce Farm Workforce Modernization Act
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Reps. Dan Newhouse (R-WA) and Zoe Lofgren (D-CA) reintroduced the bipartisan Farm Workforce Modernization Act to reform the H-2A visa program and establish a strong, legal immigration workforce for agricultural producers.
“The workforce crisis has come to a boiling point for farmers across the country,” said Rep. Dan Newhouse. “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.”
“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. Zoe 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.”
Newhouse and Lofgren were joined by Reps. Mike Simpson (R-ID), Jim Costa (D-CA), David Valadao (R-CA), and Adam Gray (D-CA) in introducing the legislation.
“The workforce crisis is the most important issue facing agriculture in our country,” said Rep. Mike 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 Rep. Jim Costa.
“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 Rep. David 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.”
“Farm workers and the larger agricultural community are the backbone of the Central Valley’s economy,” said Rep. Adam 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 legislation passed the House of Representatives with strong bipartisan support in the 116th and 117th Congresses.
Click here for a two-page summary of the bill.
Click here for a section-by-section outline of the bill.
Click here for the full text of the bill.
###
Support
“Across America, farm workers are still going to work everyday to put food on our tables,” said UFW President Teresa Romero. “Yet even as they feed our nation, too many farm workers are living in fear and uncertainty. The farm workers who feed America have earned the right to call America home. This bipartisan, common sense legislation will create an opportunity for these workers to step out of the shadows and become full members of the society they feed.”
With the reintroduction of the Farm Workforce Modernization Act, we thank Representatives Lofgren and Newhouse for their continued leadership on this important issue. During this legislative process, we implore Congress to provide much-needed updates to this bill to provide both immediate relief and long-lasting solutions for American agriculture. As always, we stand ready to engage with our elected officials on both sides of the aisle and in both houses of congress to develop legislation that can be signed into law,” said Western Growers’ CEO Dave Puglia.