Even as the administration drives home an emphasis to cull back foreign workers , agricultural groups are pushing for a different set of reforms in the seasonal guest-worker program for agriculture — the H-2A visa program . The White House did not indicate any changes to the H-2A program for agriculture , which brought in as many as 160,000 seasonal workers for farmers last year .
The dairy industry is calling on Congress to embrace a pair of bills that would allow H-2A to be used not just for seasonal work , but year-round .
“ Dairy farming is a physically demanding , 24-7 , 365-day job . Without the help of foreign labor , many American dairy operations face the threat of closure ,” said Jim Mulhern , president and CEO of the National Milk Producers Federation ( NMPF ). “ We appreciate that members of both parties are building awareness of the need for action on this challenge .”
A NMPF news release drew attention to a pair of House bills that would allow dairy farmers to hire foreign labor through the H-2A program . Reps . Elise Stefanik and Chris Collins , both Republicans from New York , have introduced the Farm Family Relief Act . Rep . Sean Duffy , R-Wis ., introduced the Defending the Agricultural Industry ’ s Requirements Year-round ( DAIRY ) Act .
Craig Regelbrugge , national co-chairman of the Ag Coalition for Immigration Reform , said in an email to DTN that agriculture has a lower profile in the immigration debate right now , partially because there is no agriculture secretary yet . Regelbrugge also said H-2A farmers go through a lot of effort trying to find U . S . workers before applying for the guest-worker program .
“ We are hopeful that this administration will recognize the role that a well-functioning , agricultural worker program can play in growing rural economies and employment in the off-farm but farm-dependent sectors that support specialty crop and livestock production ,” Regelbrugge stated to DTN . “ There is much they could do to improve the current program , though a full solution to the agricultural labor crisis will ultimately require federal legislation .”
Other agricultural groups , including fruit and 16 | TIBO Magazine - Volume 003
vegetable growers , have pitched to Congress several other changes to the H-2A program that would make it easier to bring in additional seasonal workers and allow those agricultural workers to remain in the U . S . longer .
A Trump administration official , who explained the executive order to reporters , said companies had diluted the rules and abused the use of waivers to bring in such workers . The impact is the H-1B workers end up lowering wages for Americans . “ These reforms are broadly supported by groups that represents American workers in the United States ,” the White House official said , speaking on condition of anonymity .
The White House official added that the Departments of Labor , Justice , Homeland Security and State are all prompted under the executive order to take action , cracking down on fraud and abuse in the immigration system .
The executive order will also include changes to federal procurement programs to reduce contracts going to foreign companies . The order will place new requirements on federal agencies before they offer a contract to a foreign vendor .
The buy American process will take into account foreign dumping practices and waivers of buy American in free-trade agreements . Such waivers might now become part of new trade negotiations or be revoked by the administration .
Chris Clayton DTN Ag Policy Editor Twitter : @ Chrisclaytondtn
Ag Policy Editor Chris Clayton has been writing and editing for DTN / The Progressive Farmer since 2005 after working more than seven years as a reporter for the Omaha World-Herald .
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