WASHINGTON, DC - Congresswoman Michelle Fischbach (MN-07) joined House Agriculture Committee Chairman Glenn "GT" Thompson last week as an original cosponsor of the Securing Agriculture’s Workforce Act. This legislation modernizes the H-2A agricultural worker program, delivering labor flexibility and financial predictability to agricultural producers.
"Our hard-working farmers should not have to fight through mountains of federal red tape just to feed and fuel our country," said Rep. Fischbach. "Rigid and outdated H-2A program requirements have ignored the realities of modern farming, leaving our local ag economy without a strong workforce. This producer-backed bill answers the calls of our farmers by cutting compliance costs and establishing a stable, predictable framework so our agricultural community can thrive."
“There is no greater national security threat than disruptions to our food supply,” Rep. Thompson said. “The Securing Agriculture’s Workforce Act of 2026 makes the practical, commonsense reforms required to prevent these disruptions by providing a workforce that meets agriculture’s needs—now and in the future.”
The Securing Agriculture’s Workforce Act includes several reforms specifically designed to alleviate the agriculture workforce constraints by:
- Extending the length of H-2A temporary worker definitions to 350 days. This expansion is the critical step needed for dairy, poultry, and specialty crop operations to qualify for the H-2A program.
- Eliminating the requirement that H-2A workers be classified as "seasonal," changing the definition to "temporary" to accommodate operations that require year-round labor.
- Establishing a single online platform shared by the Departments of Labor, Homeland Security, and State to streamline applications.
- Capping annual wage changes, reducing compliance burdens, and streamlining housing inspections to reduce overhead costs.
