H-2A Reform
From the Ag Information Network, I’m Bob Larson with today’s Fruit Grower Report. While the Farm Bill 2.0 is front and center for House Ag Committee Chair GT Thompson of Pennsylvania, ag labor reform remains high on his list of priorities.
Thompson says once the farm bill is ready to move on the Senate, they will begin work on reforming the H-2A program right away …
THOMPSON … “Well, sure. I think in the not-too-distant future, it'll be after this farm bill gets sent to the Senate, we'll be releasing for a discussion draft, a bill that would really modernize the H2A program, make sure it works for year-round agriculture, something that increases access, and some common-sense changes to it.”
Pushing visa reform over the finish line, Thompson says is an accomplishment that is long-overdue and needs immediate attention …
THOMPSON … “This has been a long-going project, obviously going back to the 118th Congress, and looking forward to getting that bill out for a short period of time, probably about three weeks of discussion draft for final input from producers and processors, and then we'll be getting that bill introduced. When we're successful with that, this will be the first real reforms to the agricultural workforce going back to the Reagan administration, so a long time ago.”
Thompson noted that the current H-2A system contributes to high labor costs, which in turn hurt farmers and raise food prices for consumers.
