WASHINGTON, DC – On June 30, Chairman of the House Agriculture Committee, Glenn “GT” Thompson (PA-15), introduced the bipartisan Securing Agriculture’s Workforce Act of 2026 (SAWA or H.R. 9535), which would expand access to the H-2A agricultural guest worker program. The H-2A visa program, established under the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986, allows U.S. agricultural employers to hire temporary non-immigrant foreign workers when domestic labor is unavailable. Since its creation, the program has grown steadily as producers increasingly rely on H-2A workers to address labor shortages, with more than 300,000 visas issued in 2025.
Last week, the House Agriculture Committee held a press conference with the bill's co-sponsors, agricultural producers, and stakeholder organizations to discuss the legislation. Thompson said the proposal is based on recommendations from the committee's Agricultural Labor Working Group and is intended to address workforce needs across a broad range of agricultural sectors, including crop production, livestock, forestry, and indoor agriculture. He emphasized that the current H-2A program “no longer meets the needs of American agricultural production,” arguing that strengthening the nation’s agricultural workforce is essential to protecting the U.S. food supply. The legislation was introduced with 49 original bipartisan cosponsors and has gained support from more than 400 agricultural groups, including USA Rice.
“Following sustained USA Rice advocacy on the need for critical improvements to the H-2A Agricultural Labor Visa Program, we strongly support the bipartisan Securing Agriculture’s Workforce Act of 2026,” said Fred Zaunbrecher, Louisiana rice farmer and chair of the USA Rice Farmers. “To ensure rice farmers have access to an adequate workforce, SAWA includes critical reforms that would streamline the visa process and provide comprehensive reforms to this essential program.”
SAWA proposes several significant reforms to the H-2A program, including expanding eligibility for year-round agricultural employers, adjusting wage requirements, and streamlining the application process. Under the bill, year-round agricultural employers such as meat, poultry, and dairy operations would be allowed to participate in the program, while the definition of “temporary” employment would be extended from 10 months to up to 350 days, allowing employers to retain workers for longer periods.
The legislation would also codify an improved wage methodology and establish safeguards to prevent unpredictable fluctuations in the Adverse Effect Wage Rate (AEWR). AEWR is the federally required minimum wage for H-2A workers, designed to ensure foreign labor does not negatively affect domestic wages. Supporters argue that the current wage formula has caused H-2A wage rates to rise nearly 70 percent faster than inflation, contributing to higher labor costs for producers.
In addition, the bill would create a centralized online application platform to improve coordination and consistency among the federal agencies responsible for administering the program.
If passed, SAWA could mark one of the most significant updates to the H-2A program in nearly 40 years, with the goal of creating a more reliable workforce for U.S. agriculture. Go
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