News

Ag labor visa provisions stripped from latest House immigration bill

Farmers and agribusinesses hoping for a year-round worker visa program will have to wait even longer.

The proposed H2-C visa promoted by ag groups including the American Dairy Coalition was part of Representative Bob Goodlatte’s Ag Act, which the coalition’s Laurie Fischer says almost made it to the House floor.  “That particular Ag Act provision was put into a new immigration bill that is headed for the House floor today (6/27/18).  It’s uncertain if this bill will pass today, and late last evening, there was a turn of events and the Ag Act was removed from that part of the bill.”

Fischer says the language of Goodlatte’s Ag Act might become part of a new immigration bill that hasn’t been written yet.  She is concerned Congress might not solve the worker visa issues before the August recess.

National Council of Farmer Cooperatives President Chuck Conner also says their group is disappointed the provisions to address the labor crisis faced by America’s farmers and ranchers were not addressed.  He says their members believe a proposal that addresses agriculture’s labor needs can garner majority support from House members if brought to a floor vote.