House Agriculture Committee Chairman G. T. Thompson has introduced legislation aimed at expanding the H-2A agricultural guest worker program and addressing long-standing farm labor shortages.
Politico said “The Securing Agriculture’s Workforce Act of 2026” would broaden access to H-2A workers while allowing some undocumented agricultural employees in the U.S. to apply for temporary legal status under the program if they meet eligibility requirements. Thompson said the proposal is intended to modernize what he called a “broken” farm labor system.
“With the border now secure, it is time to address these shortcomings and provide fair and legal pathways for all agriculture to obtain workers when they can’t find U.S. citizens willing to perform these tasks,” Thompson said.
The legislation closely aligns with priorities of dairy producers and other labor-intensive agricultural sectors that have sought year-round access to a reliable workforce. However, some provisions are expected to face opposition in Congress as lawmakers debate broader immigration policy.
Major livestock groups are applauding new legislation that would expand the H-2A guest worker program to year-round agriculture, calling it the most significant farm labor reform proposal in decades. The Securing Agriculture’s Workforce Act, introduced by House Agriculture Committee Chairman G. T. Thompson, would allow dairy and pork producers to use H-2A workers by removing the program’s seasonal requirement and permitting contracts of up to 350 days. The National Milk Producers Federation said the bill would finally give dairy farms access to a legal guest worker program while helping current employees transition into a workable visa system. “This will ensure we don’t face a major workforce disruption as dairy farms transition to H-2A,” said NMPF President and CEO Gregg Doud. The National Pork Producers Council also endorsed the measure, saying it would provide year-round livestock operations with access to a more reliable workforce. “Agriculture needs a stronger workforce,” said NPPC President Rob Brenneman.
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