For the first time in nearly 40 years, there is real momentum in Congress to modernize the H-2A Temporary Agricultural Worker Program. House Agriculture Committee Chairman G.T. Thompson (R-PA-15) has introduced H.R. 9535, the Securing Agriculture's Workforce Act (SAWA), a bipartisan bill that would deliver meaningful, long-overdue reforms to the program that horticulture and specialty crop businesses rely on to meet their workforce needs. As this legislation moves through Congress, it is critical that our members make their voices heard.

The H-2A program has remained largely unchanged statutorily since 1986. Outdated eligibility requirements, unpredictable wage structures, and a fragmented application process have made the program increasingly difficult and costly to use, even as demand for H-2A workers has nearly quadrupled over the past decade. For horticulture and specialty crop producers, these inefficiencies translate directly into workforce uncertainty, higher operating costs, and real risk to production.

SAWA addresses these challenges by expanding program access for all specialty crop operations, establishing a fair and stable wage methodology, and streamlining the administrative process to reduce costly delays.

Please take a moment to contact your Member of Congress and ask them to support SAWA by co-sponsoring the bill, supporting a markup hearing in the House Judiciary Committee, and advancing the legislation to the full House floor for a vote.

Thank you for being a valued AmericanHort member.