U.S. Farmworker Protection Act
Sponsored By: Representative Jayapal, Pramila [D-WA-7]
Introduced
Summary
Caps annual H-2A certifications at 400,000. The bill would limit the size of the H-2A temporary agricultural worker program after rapid growth that reached 384,865 certified jobs in fiscal year 2024 and aims to reduce displacement of U.S. farmworkers and downward pressure on wages and working conditions.
Show full summary
- U.S. farmworkers: The cap targets program growth that lawmakers say threatens to displace U.S. farmworkers and depress wages and conditions for those who harvest crops, drive trucks, and operate equipment.
- Temporary foreign workers: Employers could receive certification for no more than 400,000 H-2A positions in a fiscal year, which would directly limit the number of new H-2A job certifications.
- Agricultural employers: Employers would need to plan hiring within the new annual limit, but positions specified in petitions as filled by workers represented by a bargaining representative do not count toward the cap.
- Labor organizations: The bill defines a bargaining representative as a labor organization that represents agricultural employees, has filed an LM-2, LM-3, or LM-4 form with the Department of Labor, and has a collective bargaining agreement covering those employees.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
1 provisions identified: 0 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.
Cap on temporary farmworker visas
This bill would limit H-2A temporary farmworker certifications to 400,000 positions per fiscal year. The Secretary of Labor would not be able to certify petitions covering more than 400,000 positions in a fiscal year. Positions an employer says will be filled by workers represented by a bargaining representative would not count toward that 400,000 limit. The bill would define a bargaining representative as a labor organization that represents agricultural employees, filed an LM-2, LM-3, or LM-4 form, and has a collective bargaining agreement covering agricultural employees.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Jayapal, Pramila [D-WA-7]
WA • D
Cosponsors
Pelosi
CA • D
Sponsored 2/12/2026
Rep. García, Jesús G. "Chuy" [D-IL-4]
IL • D
Sponsored 2/12/2026
Castro (TX)
TX • D
Sponsored 2/12/2026
Rep. Casar, Greg [D-TX-35]
TX • D
Sponsored 2/12/2026
Rep. Chu, Judy [D-CA-28]
CA • D
Sponsored 2/12/2026
Simon
CA • D
Sponsored 2/12/2026
Rep. Thanedar, Shri [D-MI-13]
MI • D
Sponsored 2/12/2026
Rep. Doggett, Lloyd [D-TX-37]
TX • D
Sponsored 2/12/2026
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
View on Congress.gov