Legislation introduced in the House of Representatives, the Farm Workforce Modernization Act, would reform the H-2A visa program to address the agricultural labor shortage. Representatives Zoe Lofgren, a California Democrat, and Dan Newhouse, a Washington state Republican, introduced the legislation this week. Among other provisions, it would amend the H-2A program to allow a capped number of visas for farmworkers to work year-round. National Pork Producers Council’s recently elected President Jen Sorenson says the organization “believes this legislation is a step in the right direction.” The U.S. pork industry is largely dependent on foreign-born workers. NPPC says visa reform is needed to ensure that U.S. livestock agriculture can compete globally and continue to provide safe and affordable pork to Americans and consumers worldwide. The National Milk Producers Federation also welcomed the legislation. NMPF President and CEO Jim Mulhern stated, “This bipartisan bill takes a significant step toward ultimately addressing through legislation the workforce crisis plaguing American agriculture.”
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