Support HR 3227 Farm Workforce Modernization Act to Help Fix Immigration

Today I take pen in hand to write to request your co-sponsorship and support for H.R. 3227, the Farm Workforce Modernization Act. (Lofgren) The bill, introduced in May, is crucial legislation that aims to address the severe labor shortage facing the agricultural industry. The bill, as you know, would reform the H-2A guest worker program and provide a pathway to legal status for undocumented farmworkers currently employed in agriculture. This would ensure a stable and legal workforce for farmers and provide much-needed security for the essential workers who maintain our nation's food supply. The House had passed this bill twice with bipartisan support, but it has stalled in the Senate. It is imperative that you work with any allies in the Senate to take action forward on this issue. The agricultural labor crisis has reached a critical point, jeopardizing the productivity and viability of farms across the country. Farmers are struggling to find enough workers, leading to crops being left unharvested and substantial financial losses. The exploitation of undocumented workers and the ever-tightening immigration enforcement have exacerbated this crisis. Raids on field work have not helped, and even ‘assurances’ by President Trump that the field raids would stop have gone unheeded by DHS and ICE. The Farm Workforce Modernization Act offers a pragmatic solution that would bring stability and dignity to the agricultural workforce. By streamlining the H-2A program and providing legal status to current undocumented farmworkers, it ensures a reliable labor supply for growers while upholding the rights of workers. I urge you to take action and prioritize the passage of the Farm Workforce Modernization Act in the House and Senate. The well-being of our nation's agricultural sector and food security depends on addressing this labor crisis through comprehensive reform. The time to act is now. Thank you for your attention to this matter.