House Judiciary Committee passes Farm Workforce Modernization Act

On Thursday, the House Judiciary Committee passed the Farm Workforce Modernization Act.

The bill, introduced by Reps. Zoe Lofgren (D-CA-19), Dan Newhouse (R-WA-04) and others from both parties, would, among other things, provide pathways to legal status for experienced and contributing agricultural workers, with strong incentives to continue working in agriculture; streamline the H-2A program for agricultural employers, providing some wage and cost relief and certainty; and phase in use of the E-Verify system across the agriculture sector, after stabilizing reforms are in place.

A full breakdown of the bill can be found here.

Currently, the next session of Congress is scheduled to run Dec. 3-12. At this time, it is unclear if the bill will be voted on by the full house at that time. If it were to pass the House, it would then need to be voted on by the Senate.