Supporting Farm Operations Act of 2025

Bill Number

H.R. 1624

Origin Chamber

House

Congress

119th Congress, Session 1

Policy Area

Immigration

Status

Introduced

Latest Action

2025-02-26: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.

Last Updated

2025-04-09T08:06:59Z

AI-Generated Summary

Purpose

The "Supporting Farm Operations Act of 2025" (H.R. 1624) aims to stabilize labor costs for U.S. agricultural employers by freezing the Adverse Effect Wage Rate (AEWR)—the minimum wage required for temporary foreign farmworkers under the H-2A visa program—at 2023 levels through 2026. It also clarifies how wages are determined for workers with varied job duties.

Key Provisions

• Wage Rate Freeze: The Secretary of Labor must maintain the AEWR for H-2A nonimmigrants (temporary agricultural workers) in each state at the rate in effect on December 31, 2023, until December 31, 2026. This applies to wages outlined in federal regulations (20 CFR 655.1308) under the Immigration and Nationality Act.
• Job Classification Clarification: When calculating required wages, the Secretary of Labor must base the evaluation on the worker's primary duties, even if they perform multiple tasks.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

• Currently, the AEWR is typically updated annually based on prevailing agricultural wages to prevent negative impacts on U.S. workers. This bill halts such updates for three years, overriding the usual adjustment process.
• It introduces a "primary duties" standard for wage classification, shifting from potentially broader task-based assessments to focus on core responsibilities, which could simplify compliance for employers.

Potential Impacts

• On Government Agencies: The Department of Labor will have reduced flexibility in adjusting wages, potentially limiting its ability to respond to economic changes in agriculture. Enforcement of H-2A rules may shift toward emphasizing primary job duties.
• On Citizens and Workers: U.S. farm employers could benefit from predictable, lower labor costs, supporting farm operations amid rising expenses. H-2A workers (often from abroad) may see stagnant wages, while U.S. farmworkers could face less wage pressure from foreign labor competition.
• On International Relations: Minimal direct impact, though it may affect perceptions of U.S. treatment of migrant workers, potentially influencing bilateral agreements with countries like Mexico that supply H-2A labor.

Main Stakeholders Affected

• Agricultural Employers: Farmers and farm operations relying on H-2A visas, who gain cost certainty and easier compliance.
• H-2A Nonimmigrant Workers: Temporary foreign workers, whose wage growth is capped, potentially affecting their earnings and living conditions.
• U.S. Department of Labor: Directly tasked with implementation, facing constraints on wage policy.
• U.S. Agricultural Workers: Domestic workers in the sector, who may experience indirect effects on job competition and wage standards.

Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications

• Legal: The bill modifies federal regulations without altering the underlying Immigration and Nationality Act, but it could face challenges if seen as conflicting with the law's intent to protect U.S. workers from adverse wage effects. The primary duties evaluation may require regulatory updates for clarity.
• Constitutional: No direct constitutional issues, as it involves administrative wage-setting within Congress's immigration and commerce powers.
• Political: Supports rural and agricultural interests by prioritizing farm stability, but could draw criticism from labor advocates for limiting worker protections. As a targeted freeze, it reflects bipartisan rural support (evident in cosponsors) amid ongoing debates on immigration and labor policy.

This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.

Sponsor

Rep. Moolenaar, John R. [R-MI-2]

Cosponsors (14)

Rep. Bergman, Jack [R-MI-1], Rep. Bentz, Cliff [R-OR-2], Rep. Crawford, Eric A. "Rick" [R-AR-1], Rep. Webster, Daniel [R-FL-11], Rep. Huizenga, Bill [R-MI-4], Rep. Meuser, Daniel [R-PA-9], Rep. Scholten, Hillary J. [D-MI-3], Rep. Lucas, Frank D. [R-OK-3], Rep. Newhouse, Dan [R-WA-4], Rep. LaHood, Darin [R-IL-16], Rep. Fulcher, Russ [R-ID-1], Rep. Barrett, Tom [R-MI-7], Rep. Riley, Josh [D-NY-19], Rep. Franklin, Scott [R-FL-18]

Recent Actions

• 2025-02-26: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
• 2025-02-26: Introduced in House
• 2025-02-26: Introduced in House

Bill Versions

• Supporting Farm Operations Act of 2025 — issued 2025-02-26 — PDF (2 pages)