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H-2A Program Reforms: Streamlining Agricultural Worker Visas and Employer Rules.

This bill reforms the H-2A agricultural worker program by shifting oversight from the Department of Labor to the Department of Agriculture. The aim is to streamline the process for hiring seasonal agricultural workers, potentially impacting agricultural product availability and production costs. New rules cover faster application approvals, flexibility in experience requirements, and changes to housing and wage provisions.
Key points
Oversight of the H-2A program transfers from the Department of Labor to the Department of Agriculture to expedite processes.
H-2A worker applications will be approved faster; failure to decide within 15 days means automatic approval.
Agricultural employers can require experience, but work performed in illegal status will not count towards it.
Housing rules for workers are changed, allowing for housing allowances in certain states.
A maximum wage rate for H-2A workers is set at 115% of the federal or state minimum wage.
New rules are introduced regarding the length of H-2A worker stays and consequences for visa violations.
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Expired
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Additional Information
Print number: 117_HR_1037
Sponsor: Rep. Allen, Rick W. [R-GA-12]
Process start date: 2021-02-15
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Summarized by: gemini-2.5-flash-preview-05-20
Source data: api.congress.gov
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OFFICIAL LEGAL TITLE

BARN Act

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What is the official ID of this bill?

The official print number for this legislation is 117_HR_1037.

Which chamber initiated this legislation?

This legislation was initiated in the House of Representatives.

When did the legislative process begin?

The process officially started on 2021-02-15.

What are the main provisions?

Key points include:

  • Oversight of the H-2A program transfers from the Department of Labor to the Department of Agriculture to expedite processes.
  • H-2A worker applications will be approved faster; failure to decide within 15 days means automatic approval.
  • Agricultural employers can require experience, but work performed in illegal status will not count towards it.
  • Housing rules for workers are changed, allowing for housing allowances in certain states.
  • A maximum wage rate for H-2A workers is set at 115% of the federal or state minimum wage.
  • New rules are introduced regarding the length of H-2A worker stays and consequences for visa violations.
What is the specific legal status?

The current status is Expired.

Where can I read the full text of this legislation?

The full official text is available at: View full text

Who is the primary sponsor?

The primary sponsor is Rep. Allen, Rick W. [R-GA-12].

What is the latest detailed status?

The latest detailed status is: Referred to the Subcommittee on Immigration and Citizenship.

Is this summary verified?

Yes. This content was analyzed by AI and verified by the Lustra Judge System on 2025-12-27.

CATEGORIES

Agriculture Migration Labor