Congress must act to ensure essential agriculture workers are treated fairly and humanely. The Farm Workforce Modernization Act (FWMA) is a bipartisan bill that modernizes the H-2A visa program, which allows for temporary or seasonal agricultural work, expands opportunities for legal status for long-term farmworkers, and strengthens the United States food supply chain. Amid immigration raids in workplaces, including those in the agriculture industry, advocacy for humane treatment is even more critical. Urge your members of Congress to support the FWMA and stand with farmers and farmworkers who feed our nation.
The Farm Workforce Modernization Act would address the urgent need for a more stable agricultural workforce in the United States—prioritizing the health and dignity of workers. This bipartisan bill, reintroduced by Reps. Zoe Lofgren (D-Calif.) and Dan Newhouse (R-Wash.), modernizes the H-2A agricultural guest worker program and provides a path to legal status for long-term farmworkers, ensuring both security for workers and their families and improving economic stability for all working in the agriculture sector. Read the full text and legislative history of the FWMA at Congress.gov.
The proposed expansions to the H-2A visa program would allow for year-round agricultural employment and not just seasonal work. It also establishes a process for experienced farmworkers to earn Certified Agricultural Worker status, granting legal protections to those who have contributed significantly to our communities and food system. The bill streamlines the application process for employers, reforms wage calculations to better reflect real-world conditions, and invests in preserving and expanding farmworker housing. See this detailed legislative summary.
Farm labor shortages are already having a severe impact on the U.S. economy. The inability to find enough workers to plant, tend, and harvest crops leads to food waste, higher prices, and even farm closures. Between 2017 and 2022, the United States lost over 140,000 farms (a 7% decline) due to labor shortages and an aging workforce. These shortages contribute to higher food prices and less food security for American families. The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Farm Labor page and this analysis of the agricultural labor crisis explain more about the economic impact of farm labor shortages.
The Episcopal Church has a long history of supporting humane immigration and labor policies, including comprehensive immigration reform and realistic pathways to citizenship for undocumented workers. In 2024, the church reaffirmed its commitment to these principles, specifically advocating for the passage of the FWMA and other legislation that supports migrants and farmworkers. Read the most recent resolution here (PDF) and review the church’s broader policy statements on immigration here.
Please urge your members of Congress to cosponsor and support the Farm Workforce Modernization Act to support farmworkers who are the core of our food supply.
Additional Resources:
Congressional summaries and fact sheets on the FWMA | Legislative summary PDF
Reports on the economic impact of farm labor shortages (USDA) | Agricultural labor crisis analysis
Episcopal Church immigration policy statement February 2024
Farm Workforce Modernization Act Reintroduced - Citrus Industry Magazine
Newhouse Legislative Summary for FWMA
Episcopal Church Resolutions:
2022-A022: Commend and Endorse the Work of Episcopal Migration Ministries
2018-D009: Set Forth Christian Principles to Guide Responses to Human Migration
2018-A178: Denounce Inhumane Immigration Policies and Advocate on Behalf of Migrants
2009-B006: Advocate for Immigration Reform