H2-A Reform Needed But Solution Elusive

Reform of the H2-A program that grants temporary visas for farm workers is in dire need of reform, growers and lawmakers agree. But that appears to be where the unified view ends as there has yet to be a solution to address shortcomings in the program that all sides can support. The House Judiciary Subcommittee on Immigration and Citizenship held a hearing Wednesday, featuring testimony from several stakeholders in the issue. Lawmakers agreed the program is difficult for producers to work with and has resulted in labor shortages. Growers testifying indicated the program can impact their operations, especially in situations where crop harvest has to take place within a limited amount of time. The difficulties in obtaining workers through the program has also led to some producers turning to undocumented workers on their operations, according to the panel's Ranking Member Ken Buck, R.-Colo. Panel Chair Zoe Lofgren, D-Calif., said getting the program fixed is also a matter of national security and raises the need for imports of certain products which can up the risk for contamination and increase costs for consumers. Further, growers at the hearing noted that those workers coming in via the H2-A program are not taking jobs from U.S. citizens as these are jobs that Americans are not competing for. But while the hearing revealed a unanimous view of change needed, it also underscored that there is no unified solution that lawmakers and stakeholders can both get behind.