Newhouse, Cuellar H-2A Amendment Included in Homeland Security Appropriations Bill

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Rep. Dan Newhouse (R-WA) and Rep. Henry Cuellar (D-TX) released the following statements after the House Committee on Appropriations approved an amendment they offered to the Fiscal Year 2019 Homeland Security Appropriations Act. The legislation provides for critical programs such as border and immigration enforcement, customs activities, protection against cyberterrorism, aviation security, natural disaster response, border security, and temporary guest-workers. Rep. Newhouse and Rep. Cuellar's bipartisan amendment applies the H-2A program to all of agriculture, and it was adopted by unanimous voice vote:

"Farmers facing a shortage of agriculture labor have not been well-served by the current H-2A program," said Rep. Newhouse. "Modern agriculture demands modernization of the bureaucratic H-2A program, and as farming methods have become less seasonal or able to produce multiple harvests, the H-2A program must be updated to meet the needs of the agriculture industry. I am grateful to my colleague Rep. Cuellar for working with me on a bipartisan solution to make H-2A more workable for farmers."

"Today, large segments of American agriculture face a critical lack of workers," said Congressman Cuellar. "This amendment is simple— it provides the agriculture industry with the access to workers it needs by making clear that all agriculture may utilize H-2A. The reality is that the H-2A program is not working for the entirety of the American agriculture industry. In fact, it excludes non-seasonal agricultural sectors, such as dairy farming, and puts them at a disadvantage. This amendment will clear the path for our farmers and ranchers to gain access to much needed workers that will benefit the local economy in my district and across the country. I would like to thank Rep. Newhouse for working with me in a bipartisan manner to address this issue."

Newhouse/Cuellar H-2A Amendment Summary:

Rep. Newhouse and Rep. Cuellar's amendment clarifies that for FY2019 all of agriculture may use the H-2A program. Under the amendment, H-2A would still remain a temporary program. Additionally, the amendment would not change the time limits a worker employed through the H-2A program can stay in the U.S., and it would maintain the requirement that farmers show they are advertising open positions and are trying to hire domestic workers first. The amendment would simply ensure that all of agriculture is able to utilize the program. The agriculture industry's labor situation has been a concern for many years, and currently large segments of American agriculture face a critical shortage of workers. This shortfall is exacerbated by the fact that the H-2A program is not working for all of agriculture, such as dairies and agriculture operations with multiple crops and harvests. Click here for the amendment text.

WATCH Newhouse Remarks on Bipartisan H2A Amendment

Transcription:

Today the labor situation in agriculture is a huge concern. Large segments of the American agriculture truly face a critical lack of employees. This is worsened by the fact the H-2A program, commonly thought of as our ag guest worker program, is not working or is simply not available for all of agriculture.

Today with modern techniques, the seasonality that used to define agriculture really doesn't exist. More and more fresh produce is produced in green houses, crops like mushrooms can be harvested year-round. Dairy, for example, is currently excluded from using H-2A because, as you know, milking is not seasonal. Cows have to milk at least twice a day – at some dairies, three times a day – seven days a week, 365 days a year.

Many operations have multiple crops on their farms with harvests that come one right after another. In short, these farms have multiple seasons condensed into their operations. When farmers are using the program, they are plagued by bureaucratic red tape. Delays in the program, leading to fights with regulators when the season starts. Ultimately resulting in workers showing up on the farm well after the date that they were needed. This can result in millions of dollars in lost agriculture production.

So my amendment is simple. It clarifies that all of agriculture may use the H-2A program, so it is truly our nation's agricultural guest worker program. Now to be clear, H-2A would still be a temporary program. This amendment would not change time limits a worker employed through the H2A program can stay in the United States. It would not change requirements on farmers how they must show that they are hiring domestic workers first. It would just ensure that all of agriculture is able to utilize the program.

It's a small step that we can take to provide some much needed relief to our farmers by making it clear that all of Agriculture may utilize this program. I would ask for support from my colleagues on this amendment.