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H-2A wage freeze bill sees new life
Bipartisan legislation to pause H-2A guest worker wage rates has been reintroduced in the U.S. House
Michigan Republican John Moolenaar tells Brownfield his Supporting Farm Operations Act would freeze the Adverse Effect Wage Rate at 2023 levels through 2026.
“The Adverse Effect Wage Rate has increased consistently over the last decade, today it’s 61 percent higher in Michigan than it was in 2014,” he shares. “I’m hearing from farmers who say that they may only have one or two more years left before they end up closing up shop.”
Moolenaar says he’s optimistic the administration’s nominee to lead the Department of Labor will also help support ag labor reforms.
“She comes from the northwest where she had constituents when she was in Congress who had this issue,” he says. “And our new Secretary of Agriculture is also going to be really effective on this.”
The bill is co-sponsored by Michigan Democrat Hillary Scholten as well as Republicans Jack Bergman, Bill Huizenga, and Darin LaHood of Illinois in the Midwest.
The legislation is supported by the American Farm Bureau Federation, U.S. Apple Association, International Fresh Produce Association, American Soybean Association, and National Council of Farmer Cooperatives, among many others.
Why should the farmer get a break and not the other workers.