Workforce Policy

For years, the fresh produce industry and our agriculture sector partners have made an overwhelming case for legislation to reform our broken immigration system and help build a legal and reliable workforce. With passage of the bipartisan 2021 Farm Workforce Modernization Act (H.R.1603) in the House of Representatives, we are one step closer to getting the reforms the fresh produce industry has needed for decades.

This legislation marks an important first step in that process and it includes the basic principles of immigration reform that we have long advocated for. In particular, the bill provides legal status for the current workforce, reforms the current federal agriculture guest worker program known as H-2A and ensures that we will have future access to a skilled, dedicated workforce. The bill also includes provisions to ensure the proper enforcement of our nation’s immigration laws.

A Senate bill is still needed, and we encourage the industry to contact their Senators about the need for that. While bipartisan negotiations began early this year, more support is needed to see this long-standing issue addressed.

Apart from legislation, we will work with the Biden Administration to seek greater modernization of the H-2A program. This includes building continued support in the Biden Administration for reforms that were made under the Trump Administration. These include a revised calculation of the Adverse Effect Wage Rate (AEWR) as well as the relaxation of burdensome administrative requirements to ensure access to a viable workforce.

In addition to the agriculture-specific legislation, bipartisan negotiations continue on a larger, comprehensive immigration bill. IFPA strongly supports these efforts which will provide further relief to our members who rely on immigrant labor beyond the farm.

Coalitions

As part of our immigration advocacy efforts, IFPA works with various coalitions to advance our immigration priorities. Learn more by visiting the coalition websites:

Letters

Key to our efforts is making sure members of Congress and the Administration hear directly from IFPA and our members about the importance of immigration reform. View the letters IFPA has organized or joined:

Aug. 2, 2022: Letter to Senate Leadership on Agricultural Support for Immigration Reform
May 12, 2022: Letter to Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on the Mark-Up of 11 Key Immigration Bills
June 8, 2021: Letter to Senate Leadership on Agricultural Support for Immigration Reform

Legislation

Legislative action is at the heart of our efforts to change policies to improve the conditions impacting our supply chain. IFPA has supported the following bills in the immigration space:

Farm Workforce Modernization Act (H. R. 1603)

Federal Websites

There are many federal agencies involved in the employment of foreign workers in the fresh produce industry. This is particularly true for users of the H-2A and H-2B visa programs where multiple agencies work together to manage the programs. Learn more about relevant agencies that play a role in the development, implementation and oversight of regulations impacting our members in this space: