House Agriculture Chairman Introduces H-2A Reform Bill
Published Thursday, July 2, 2026
This week, House Agriculture Committee Chairman GT Thompson, R-Pa., introduced the Securing Agriculture's Workforce Act of 2026 (H.R. 9535), bipartisan legislation to modernize and improve the H-2A agricultural guest worker program.
The bill would make broad changes to the program by codifying recent reforms to the Adverse Effect Wage Rate, expanding H-2A eligibility to year-round agricultural operations such as dairy farms and creating a process for experienced agricultural workers already in the United States to earn legal status while continuing to work in agriculture. The legislation also includes several provisions intended to streamline the H-2A program and reduce costs for agricultural employers.
Thompson unveiled the bill during a Tuesday press conference alongside lawmakers and American Farm Bureau Federation President Zippy Duvall. The legislation was introduced with bipartisan support, including four Democratic cosponsors, and California Farm Bureau joined nearly 300 agricultural organizations in supporting its introduction.
To Learn More: Securing Agriculture's Workforce Act
Staff contact: Bryan Little, blittle@cfbf.com.
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