Agriculture labor reform gets bipartisan support
More than 50 members of Congress co-sponsored a bipartisan bill that will reform H-2A visa program.
A Washington Congressman is supporting a bipartisan bill to improve access and control costs of agriculture labor.
U.S. Rep. Dan Newhouse, Fourth District representing central Washington, is one of more than 50 members of Congress co-sponsoring H.R. 9535, Securing Agriculture’s Workforce Act of 2026, which will reform the H-2A visa program.
As part of a family that has been farming in Washington for four generations, “we are struggling as to hang on. It’s tough out there in ag country these days,” Newhouse said during a press conference.
Newhouse explained that in central Washington where specialty crops such as wine grapes and tree fruit are grown, “farmers need a reliable workforce that make that kind of farm work. But many growers struggle to find the workers that they need in their community forcing them to go outside and utilize the H-2A program. The cost of the program truly is putting a very big hardship on farmers and their bottom line.”
