House Ag Chair proposes sweeping change in ag labor program

House Agriculture Committee Chairman G. T. Thompson has introduced legislation aimed at expanding the H-2A agricultural guest worker program and addressing long-standing farm labor shortages. Politico said “The Securing Agriculture’s Workforce Act of 2026” would broaden access to H-2A workers while allowing some undocumented agricultural employees in the U.S. to apply for temporary legal status under the program if they meet eligibility requirements. Thompson said the proposal is intended to modernize what he called a “broken” farm labor system. “With the border now secure, it is time to address these shortcomings and provide fair and legal pathways for all agriculture to obtain workers when they can’t find U.S. citizens willing to perform these tasks,” Thompson said. The legislation closely aligns with priorities of dairy producers and other labor-intensive agricultural sectors that have sought year-round access to a reliable workforce. However, some provisions are expected to face opposition in Congress as lawmakers debate broader immigration policy.