WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, the U.S. House of Representatives passed H.R. 1603, the Farm Workforce Modernization Act of 2021. In response, Congresswoman Michelle Fischbach (MN-7) released the following statement:
“A viable farm workforce is critical in a district like mine, which is home to more than 30,000 farms. I appreciate the efforts of my colleagues to negotiate in good faith, but this bill is not without its flaws. It does not address the already-high costs of the H-2A program, nor does it offer solutions for making the program more economical for producers. The legislation also introduces a new private right of action against employers, risking costly and potentially baseless litigation for producers that cannot afford it.”
“As it currently stands, this bill is not an end-all solution for farmers and ranchers. I offered sensible solutions to the bill that would better serve our farmers, but they were rejected along party lines. I hope reasonable changes will be made in the Senate to make it a bill I can support.”
Michelle Fischbach is a wife, mom, grandma, attorney, and the U.S. Representative for Minnesota’s Seventh Congressional District. Get updates from Rep. Fischbach’s congressional office on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
