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The legislation was introduced this week in the U.S. House of Representatives that would reform the H-2A visa program to address the agricultural labor shortage.
The “Farm Workforce Modernization Act”, introduced by Representatives Zoe Lofgren from California and Dan Newhouse of Washington, would amend the H-2A program to allow a capped number of visas for farmworkers to work year-round.
In a release, National Pork Producers Council (NPPC) President Jen Sorenson says the organization “believes this legislation is a step in the right direction.” NPPC said visa reform is needed to ensure that U.S. livestock agriculture can compete globally and continue to provide safe and affordable pork to Americans and consumers worldwide.
Also pleased with the legislation is the National Milk Producers Federation. NMPF President and CEO Jim Mulhern stated, “This bipartisan bill takes a significant step toward ultimately addressing through legislation the workforce crisis plaguing American agriculture.” He said, “With COVID adding greater uncertainty to the already volatile dairy industry, our producers need access to a stable, legal workforce more now than ever.”