Congressional Push to Overhaul the H-2A Farmworker Visa Program

House Agriculture Committee Chairman Glenn “GT” Thompson (R-PA) introduced the Securing Agriculture’s Workforce Act on June 30, 2026. The bill would replace the statutory phrase “temporary or seasonal” with “temporary,” allowing contracts of up to 350 days and extending certifications for up to three consecutive years. It also creates a limited pathway for certain undocumented farmworkers present on May 31, 2026, who have worked at least 5.75 hours on 180 days in the prior two years, to obtain H-2A status. Additional provisions would standardize wage calculations, require a single online H-2A platform, and mandate heat-illness prevention and updated housing standards.

Newsweek

The H-2A program, created in the 1980s, traditionally serves farms with temporary or seasonal labor shortages. Use of the visa has surged more than 500 % since 2012, rising from 62,743 certifications to nearly 400,000 in fiscal year 2025. About half of all crop farmworkers are estimated to be unauthorized, and dairy, cattle and pork producers have been largely excluded because their operations are year-round. In June 2026 the Department of Labor certified ?400,000 positions, up from ?48,000 in 2005.

Newsweek

• Glenn Thompson – sponsor of the bill.

Idaho Statesman

• Rep. Mike Simpson (R-ID) – co-sponsor, longtime advocate for farm-worker immigration reform.

Idaho Statesman

• U.S. Chamber of Commerce – senior vice president Martin Durban supports the bill as a response to a shrinking workforce.

Idaho Statesman

• Florida Fruit and Vegetable Association – president Mike Joyner highlights growers’ reliance on guest workers.

NPR

• United Farm Workers (UFW) – president Teresa Romero opposes the bill without a legalization pathway.

NPR

• AFL-CIO – immigration policy director Shannon Lederer calls for reform, not expansion.

NPR

• Heritage Foundation – senior fellow Simon Hankinson critiques uncapped expansion.

NPR

• NumbersUSA – co-president Jeremy Beck labels the proposal an “amnesty” for illegal hiring.

Idaho Statesman

• H-2A certifications: 62,743 (2012) -> ?400,000 (2025).

Newsweek

• Guest-worker usage: ?55,000 workers in FY 2025 (Florida estimate).

Newsweek

• Foreign-born farmworkers: ?70 % (American Business Immigration Coalition).

NPR

• Undocumented farmworkers: ?40 % overall; higher in dairy (estimates >50 %).

NPR

• Republican representation: 92 % of planted acres are in districts represented by Republicans.

NPR

Proponents argue that without a legal channel, farms risk labor shortages that could disrupt food supply chains. The bill’s expanded timeframe would let dairy and livestock operations, previously barred, access H-2A workers, potentially stabilizing production and limiting reliance on undocumented labor. Critics warn that broader access could depress wages, create a captive labor class, and reduce incentives for mechanization.

Newsweek

• White House spokesperson Anna Kelly noted the administration does not pre-empt pending legislation.

NPR

• Rep. Mike Simpson said the bill “aligns perfectly with President Trump’s agenda” and offers a “legislative fix” for the dairy industry’s labor crisis.

Idaho Statesman

• U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services issued a memo clarifying that some dairies may qualify for H-2A visas if they demonstrate a seasonal need.

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• House Judiciary Committee leaders Jim Jordan (R-OH) and Jamie Raskin (D-MD) have not confirmed hearings.

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Labor groups contend the bill lacks a pathway to legalization for existing undocumented workers. Teresa Romero (UFW) warned the measure would “displace the workforce that is here now.” The AFL-CIO and Heritage Foundation both oppose expansion, citing risks of an underclass of workers and wage suppression. Jeremy Beck (NumbersUSA) called the proposal “an amnesty for employers engaged in illegal hiring” that would lower wages and deter mechanization.

NPR

Estimates of undocumented workers in dairy range from “more than half” to unspecified higher figures, reflecting a lack of precise data. The bill’s impact on wages is debated: supporters cite stability, while opponents predict downward pressure, but no empirical projections are provided.

Newsweek

• “Now that the administration has secured the border, it's time to address the rest of our immigration system,” — Martin Durban, senior vice president, U.S. Chamber of Commerce

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• “We estimate using about 55,000 guest workers this past year, not because the program works well, but because growers have no other choice,” — Mike Joyner, president, Florida Fruit and Vegetable Association

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• “We have long-standing positions in support of reform rather than expansion of our work visa programs,” — Shannon Lederer, immigration policy director, AFL-CIO

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• “It’s time to bring the H-2A program into the 21st century,” — Glenn Thompson, House Agriculture Committee Chairman

Newsweek

• “Ask any farmer or rancher, especially in the dairy industry, and they will tell you about the labor crisis they face,” — Rep. Mike Simpson, R-ID

Idaho Statesman

The bill has been referred to the House Judiciary Committee. Its future depends on whether the committee schedules a hearing and how bipartisan support evolves amid broader immigration debates.

NPR