U.S. Rep. Newhouse reintroduces farm workforce legislation

YAKIMA — U.S. Rep. Dan Newhouse, R-4th District, is hoping that the third time is indeed the charm after he and a bipartisan group of lawmakers reintroduced the Farm Workforce Modernization Act in Congress this month.

Newhouse, who represents Central Washington, said there’s more support for agricultural labor reform in the Senate, where the bill fell short of passage during Congress’ last session.

The act would create a path to legal status and citizenship for agricultural workers, change the H-2A worker program and implement an electronic verification program for agricultural workers. Newhouse helped sponsor the bill when it was proposed in 2019 and again in 2021, when it passed the House but fell short in the Senate.

Democratic Rep. Zoe Lofgren of California is one of a team of Democratic and Republican lawmakers who proposed the Farm Workforce Modernization Act, which has garnered support from business groups and some worker advocates, including the United Farm Workers.

Newhouse said farm owners and agricultural businesses are facing challenges to secure labor, challenges that have persisted since he first introduced the bill in 2019.

He said the version introduced this year is the same as the one that passed the House during the previous session.

“It’s necessary because things are the same. The situation with agricultural labor is just as critical now as ever,” he said.

The bill would create a new certified agricultural worker legal status for farmworkers and family members if they can prove they’ve worked 180 days in agriculture for the last two years.

After four to eight years of agricultural work, depending on their work history, certified agricultural workers could apply for permanent residency and, later, citizenship.