Farm Workforce Modernization Act of 2021
Latest action · Mar 22, 2021 Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
Progress
Where this bill reached, and when. A stage with no date was not reached; one that failed a vote and later carried shows the date it carried.
- IntroducedMar 8, 2021
- Passed HouseMar 18, 2021
- Passed SenateNot reached
- To the PresidentNot reached
- Became lawNot reached
Summary
Farm Workforce Modernization Act of 2021
This bill contains provisions related to alien farmworkers, including provisions establishing a certified agricultural worker (CAW) status and changing the H-2A temporary worker program.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) may grant CAW status to an applying alien who (1) performed at least 1,035 hours of agricultural labor during the two-year period prior to March 8, 2021; (2) on that date was inadmissible, deportable, or under a grant of deferred enforced departure or temporary protected status; and (3) has been continuously present in the United States from that date until receiving CAW status. The bill imposes additional crime-related inadmissibility grounds on CAW applicants and makes some other grounds inapplicable.
CAW status shall be valid for 5.5 years and may be extended. DHS may grant dependent status to the spouse or children of a principal alien.
An alien with a pending application may not be detained or removed by DHS and shall be authorized for employment until DHS makes a final decision on the application.
A CAW alien (and dependents) may apply for lawful permanent resident status after meeting various requirements, including performing a certain amount of agricultural labor for a number of years.
DHS shall create an electronic platform for (1) filing H-2A petitions, (2) facilitating the processing of H-2A cases, and (3) providing agencies a single tool for obtaining H-2A-related case information.
The bill makes various changes to the H-2A program, such as (1) modifying the method for calculating and making adjustments to the H-2A worker minimum wage, (2) specifying how an employer may satisfy requirements that it attempted to recruit U.S. workers, (3) requiring H-2A employers to guarantee certain minimum work hours, (4) making the program available for agricultural work that is not temporary or seasonal, and (5) reserving a visa allocation for the dairy industry.
DHS shall establish a pilot program allowing certain H-2A workers to apply for portable status, which gives the worker 60 days after leaving a position to secure new employment with a registered H-2A employer.
DHS shall establish an electronic system patterned on the E-Verify Program for employers to verify an individual's identity and employment authorization. Employers hiring individuals for agricultural employment must use the system.
This bill permanently establishes the Housing Preservation and Revitalization Program, which provides financing assistance for rural rental housing and off-farm labor housing and rental assistance for qualified tenants of such housing. It also authorizes the Department of Agriculture to provide various assistance, including funding for insuring loans and grants for new farmworker housing.
Recorded votes 2
Newest first. Open one to see how every member voted.
| Roll call | Question | Result | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| House 93 | On Passage | Passed247–174 | Mar 18, 2021 |
| House 92 | On Motion to Recommit | Failed204–218 | Mar 18, 2021 |
Cosponsors 61
Members who signed on, in the order they did. Signatures ran from Mar 8, 2021 to Mar 18, 2021; 1 is an original cosponsor, there from the day it was introduced.
| Seat | Cosponsor | Signed on | |
|---|---|---|---|
| R-WA | Dan Newhouse | Original | Mar 8, 2021 |
| D-NY | Antonio Delgado | Mar 9, 2021 | |
| R-WA | Cathy McMorris Rodgers | Mar 9, 2021 | |
| R-CA | David G. Valadao | Mar 9, 2021 | |
| D-GA | David Scott | Mar 9, 2021 | |
| R-CA | Doug LaMalfa | Mar 9, 2021 | |
| R-NY | Elise M. Stefanik | Mar 9, 2021 | |
| D-TX | Filemon Vela | Mar 9, 2021 | |
| R-MI | Fred Upton | Mar 9, 2021 | |
| D-TX | Henry Cuellar | Mar 9, 2021 | |
| D-NJ | Jefferson Van Drew | Mar 9, 2021 | |
| D-NY | Jerrold Nadler | Mar 9, 2021 | |
| D-CA | Jim Costa | Mar 9, 2021 | |
| D-CA | Jimmy Panetta | Mar 9, 2021 | |
| D-CA | Josh Harder | Mar 9, 2021 | |
| R-FL | Mario Diaz-Balart | Mar 9, 2021 | |
| R-NV | Mark E. Amodei | Mar 9, 2021 | |
| R-ID | Michael K. Simpson | Mar 9, 2021 | |
| D-CA | Salud O. Carbajal | Mar 9, 2021 | |
| R-PR | Jenniffer González-Colón | Mar 10, 2021 | |
| D-WA | Kim Schrier | Mar 10, 2021 | |
| D-VA | Abigail Davis Spanberger | Mar 16, 2021 | |
| R-IN | James R. Baird | Mar 16, 2021 | |
| D-CA | Ami Bera | Mar 18, 2021 | |
| D-MN | Angie Craig | Mar 18, 2021 | |
| D-NH | Ann M. Kuster | Mar 18, 2021 | |
| D-CA | Anna G. Eshoo | Mar 18, 2021 | |
| D-CA | Barbara Lee | Mar 18, 2021 | |
| D-NJ | Bill Pascrell, Jr. | Mar 18, 2021 | |
| D-GA | Carolyn Bourdeaux | Mar 18, 2021 | |
| D-ME | Chellie Pingree | Mar 18, 2021 | |
| D-IA | Cynthia Axne | Mar 18, 2021 | |
| D-DC | Eleanor Holmes Norton | Mar 18, 2021 | |
| D-MI | Elissa Slotkin | Mar 18, 2021 | |
| R-PA | Glenn Thompson | Mar 18, 2021 | |
| D-AZ | Greg Stanton | Mar 18, 2021 | |
| D-NY | Gregory W. Meeks | Mar 18, 2021 | |
| D-CA | Jared Huffman | Mar 18, 2021 | |
| D-CO | Jason Crow | Mar 18, 2021 | |
| D-VA | Jennifer Wexton | Mar 18, 2021 | |
| D-TN | Jim Cooper | Mar 18, 2021 | |
| D-CA | Jimmy Gomez | Mar 18, 2021 | |
| D-CO | Joe Neguse | Mar 18, 2021 | |
| D-CA | John Garamendi | Mar 18, 2021 | |
| D-CA | Juan Vargas | Mar 18, 2021 | |
| D-CA | Judy Chu | Mar 18, 2021 | |
| D-CA | Julia Brownley | Mar 18, 2021 | |
| D-HI | Kaiali'i Kahele | Mar 18, 2021 | |
| D-CA | Karen Bass | Mar 18, 2021 | |
| D-OR | Kurt Schrader | Mar 18, 2021 | |
| D-CA | Mike Thompson | Mar 18, 2021 | |
| D-CA | Norma J. Torres | Mar 18, 2021 | |
| D-CA | Raul Ruiz | Mar 18, 2021 | |
| D-NY | Ritchie Torres | Mar 18, 2021 | |
| D-WI | Ron Kind | Mar 18, 2021 | |
| D-AZ | Ruben Gallego | Mar 18, 2021 | |
| D-TX | Sylvia R. Garcia | Mar 18, 2021 | |
| D-NM | Teresa Leger Fernandez | Mar 18, 2021 | |
| D-NY | Thomas R. Suozzi | Mar 18, 2021 | |
| D-CA | Tony Cárdenas | Mar 18, 2021 | |
| D-FL | Val Butler Demings | Mar 18, 2021 |
Committees 5
Where it was sent and what each committee and subcommittee did with it, in order.
| Chamber | Committee | What it did |
|---|---|---|
| House | Judiciary Committee | Referred Mar 8, 2021 |
| House | Ways and Means Committee | Referred Mar 8, 2021 |
| House | Education and Workforce Committee | Referred Mar 8, 2021 |
| House | Financial Services Committee | Referred Mar 8, 2021 |
| Senate | Judiciary Committee | Referred Mar 22, 2021 |
Actions 17
Everything that happened, newest first.
- Mar 22, 2021Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
- Mar 18, 2021Considered under the provisions of rule H. Res. 233. (consideration: CR H1527-1560)
- Mar 18, 2021Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 1620, H.R. 6, H.R. 1603, H.R. 1868 and H.J. Res. 17. The resolution provides for one hour of general debate on H.R. 1620, H.R. 6, H.R. 1603, H.R. 1868, and H.J.Res. 17. The resolution provides that H.Res. 232 is hereby adopted.
- Mar 18, 2021DEBATE - The House proceeded with one hour of debate on H.R. 1603.
- Mar 18, 2021The previous question was ordered pursuant to the rule.
In the Congressional Record 11
Days the Record’s own index lists this bill, newest first, with the pages and the members it names. Pages starting H are the House, S the Senate, E Extensions of Remarks.
| Where | In the Record | Members | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| House | Debate and remarks H5828 | Raul Ruiz D-CA | Jun 23, 2022 |
| House | Debate and remarks H1182 | Raul Ruiz D-CA | Mar 1, 2022 |
| House | Debate and remarks H5730 | Carolyn Bourdeaux D-GA | Oct 21, 2021 |
| Senate | Debate and remarks S5151 | Richard J. Durbin D-IL | Jul 29, 2021 |
| Senate | Debate and remarks S5029 | Richard J. Durbin D-IL | Jul 22, 2021 |
Research
What has been written about this bill: committee reports, cost estimates, the sponsor’s authority statement, printed hearings and the Congressional Research Service’s work.
Congressional Budget Office cost estimate
- Apr 29, 2021H.R. 1603, Farm Workforce Modernization Act of 2021As passed by the House of Representatives on March 18, 2021
Constitutional authority
The sponsor’s statement, as printed in the Congressional Record, vol. 167, no. 43, March 8, 2021, page H1120.
Printed hearings 8
Hearings whose printed record names this bill, newest first: hearings on it, and wider hearings where it came up.
| Number | Hearing | Committee | Held |
|---|---|---|---|
| S. Hrg. 117-472 | A LEGISLATIVE HEARING ON S. 4244, LEGISLATION TO PROHIBIT THE MANUFACTURE, PROCESSING, AND DISTRIBUTION IN COMMERCE OF ASBESTOS104 pages | Environment and Public Works Committee | Jun 9, 2022 |
| Serial No. 117-26 | TO REVIEW THE STATE OF THE RURAL ECONOMY WITH AGRICULTURE SECRETARY TOM VILSACK241 pages | Agriculture Committee | Jan 20, 2022 |
| Serial No. 117-23 | TRADE POLICY AND PRIORITIES69 pages | Agriculture Committee | Nov 17, 2021 |
| Serial No. 117-20 | THE IMMEDIATE CHALLENGES TO OUR NATION'S FOOD SUPPLY CHAIN203 pages | Agriculture Committee | Nov 3, 2021 |
| Serial No. 117-18 | A HEARING TO REVIEW THE STATE OF THE LIVESTOCK INDUSTRY360 pages | Agriculture Committee | Oct 7, 2021 |
CRS reports 6
Congressional Research Service work that CRS links to this bill or the law it became, newest first.
Cite it 6
Products on other subjects that cite it, usually among other measures.
| Product | Title | Kind | Published |
|---|---|---|---|
| RS20844 | Temporary Protected Status and Deferred Enforced Departure | Report | Aug 28, 2025 |
| R48614 | Rising Agricultural Wages: Context for Congressional Interest in the H-2A Visa Program | Report | Aug 1, 2025 |
| R47944 | Measuring Wages in the Agricultural Sector for the H-2A Visa Program | Report | Mar 5, 2024 |
| R44849 | H-2A and H-2B Temporary Worker Visas: Policy and Related Issues | Report | May 11, 2023 |
| R47061 | Immigration Legislation and Issues in the 117th Congress | Report | Oct 21, 2022 |
Amendments 1
Amendments offered to this bill.
| Amendment | Description | Offered by | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| HAmdt 35 | Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 233, the amendment printed in Part C of House Report 117-12 is considered as adopted. | Rules Committee | On agreeing to the Rules amendment (A001) Agreed to by voice vote. |
Related bills 9
Companion bills and other measures the record links to this one.
Titles 7
Every title it has carried, official and short, at each stage.
- Official Title as Introduced
- To amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to provide for terms and conditions for nonimmigrant workers performing agricultural labor or services, and for other purposes.
- Short Title(s) as Introduced
- Farm Workforce Modernization Act of 2021
- Short Title(s) as Passed House
- Farm Workforce Modernization Act of 2021
- Short Title(s) as Introduced for portions of this bill
- Strategy and Investment in Rural Housing Preservation Act of 2021
- Short Title(s) as Passed House for portions of this bill
- Strategy and Investment in Rural Housing Preservation Act of 2021
- Short Titles from RFS (Referred to Senate) bill text
- Farm Workforce Modernization Act of 2021
- Short Title(s) for portions of this bill from RFS (Referred to Senate) bill text
- Strategy and Investment in Rural Housing Preservation Act of 2021
Subjects
Assigned by the Library of Congress. Policy area: Immigration.
- Administrative law and regulatory procedures
- Administrative remedies
- Advisory bodies
- Alternative dispute resolution, mediation, arbitration
- Border security and unlawful immigration
- Cardiovascular and respiratory health
- Civil actions and liability
- Commuting
- Congressional oversight
- Contracts and agency
- Criminal investigation, prosecution, interrogation
- Criminal justice information and records
- Department of Homeland Security
- Detention of persons
- Diplomacy, foreign officials, Americans abroad
- Emergency medical services and trauma care
- Employee hiring
- Employee leave
- Employment discrimination and employee rights
- Foreign labor
- Fraud offenses and financial crimes
- Government information and archives
- Government lending and loan guarantees
- Government studies and investigations
- Health promotion and preventive care
- Housing and community development funding
- Housing industry and standards
- Housing supply and affordability
- Immigration
- Immigration status and procedures
- Infectious and parasitic diseases
- Intergovernmental relations
- Judicial review and appeals
- Labor market
- Labor standards
- Labor-management relations
- Licensing and registrations
- Livestock
- Low- and moderate-income housing
- Migrant, seasonal, agricultural labor
- Personnel records
- Right of privacy
- Rural conditions and development
- Social work, volunteer service, charitable organizations
- State and local government operations
- Temporary and part-time employment
- Transportation costs
- User charges and fees
- Visas and passports
- Wages and earnings
- Worker safety and health
- Youth employment and child labor
Text 3
Each version as it was printed, newest first.
- Mar 22, 2021Referred in Senate
- Mar 18, 2021Engrossed in House
- Mar 8, 2021Introduced in House
Everything here is as published by Congress: the summary is the Congressional Research Service's, the action wording is the clerks', and the subjects are the Library of Congress's. How far it got is read from the actions themselves, taking the most recent one of each kind, so a bill that failed a vote and later passed is shown as having passed. Records come from this bill on Congress.gov and govinfo.gov; cost estimates are the Congressional Budget Office's, and the hearings are the printed hearings GovInfo publishes, which can appear months after the hearing.
