Newhouse Praises Trump Administration Commitment to Modernize H-2A Agricultural Worker Visa Program

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Rep. Dan Newhouse (R-WA) released the following statement after Labor Secretary Alexander Acosta, Homeland Security Secretary Kjerstjen Nielsen, Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue, and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo announced new coordination to streamline and improve the H-2A temporary agricultural visa program, which is administered by the Departments of State, Agriculture, Labor, and Homeland Security.

"The Trump administration's commitment to act on sorely-needed improvements to the guest worker visa program is welcome news to our nation's farmers and agriculture producers, who are struggling with scarce labor," said Rep. Newhouse. "The inability of farmers to find enough employees in time for harvest means lost revenue and decreased farm income. Improving the H-2A program is part of the solution to level the playing field for small farm operations who have the most difficulty complying with the bureaucratic H-2A process. Today's announcement shows that the Trump administration has farmers' backs, and I look forward to working hand-in-hand with my colleagues in Congress and the administration to address concerns I hear on a daily basis from Central Washington farmers, including pushing legislative solutions."

Last week, Rep. Newhouse's amendment to streamline the H-2A process was included in the FY 2019 House Agriculture Appropriations bill approved by the House Appropriations Committee, which mirrors the efforts announced today.