By Blake Jackson
U.S. Representative Glenn “GT” Thompson (PA-15) has introduced the bipartisan Securing Agriculture’s Workforce Act of 2026 (H.R. 9535), legislation designed to modernize the H-2A visa program and improve access to agricultural labor for U.S. farmers and ranchers.
The proposal addresses long-standing concerns about labor shortages by expanding H-2A eligibility to include year-round agricultural operations, reducing employer costs, and simplifying coordination among the federal agencies responsible for administering the program.
If enacted, it would represent the first major statutory update to the H-2A program in four decades.
“It’s time to bring the H-2A program into the 21st century,” Rep. Thompson said.
“Producers have been sounding the alarm for years that Congress needs to address the workforce crisis we have on our hands in farm country. The H-2A visa program is woefully outdated, and it no longer meets the needs of American agricultural production.”
Thompson emphasized the importance of a reliable agricultural workforce, stating, “There is no greater national security threat than disruptions to our food supply. The Securing Agriculture’s Workforce Act of 2026 makes the practical, commonsense reforms required to prevent these disruptions by providing a workforce that meets agriculture’s needs—now and in the future.”
The legislation has earned support from the American Farm Bureau Federation, the Western Growers Association, the National Milk Producers Federation, and more than 400 additional agricultural organizations nationwide.
Categories: Pennsylvania, General, Government & Policy