U.S. Rep. Glenn “GT” Thompson (R-PA) recently formed the bipartisan Agricultural Labor Working Group, which will focus on the workforce issues facing America’s agricultural producers.
Rep. Thompson, chairman of the U.S. House Agriculture Committee, joined U.S. Rep. David Scott (D-GA), ranking member of the committee, in announcing the newly formed group in a joint statement released on June 21.
“The Committee on Agriculture has heard loud and clear from producers across the nation that one of the biggest challenges confronting the agriculture industry is a lack of reliable labor,” the lawmakers said. “Though not directly in our committee’s jurisdiction, we have a responsibility to be a voice in Congress on the issues and policies impacting farmers and ranchers.
“This is a complex problem that deserves the focused attention of the members who hear from producers every day rather than the partisan grandstanding that has plagued these efforts in the past,” said Rep. Thompson and his colleague.
They pointed out that the group’s members have been selected from current House Agriculture Committee members and aim to represent every sector and geographical region of American agriculture, according to their statement.
U.S. Reps. Rick Crawford (R-AR) and Don Davis (D-NC) are co-chairs of the working group, which will seek input from stakeholders, employers, and workers, particularly emphasizing the H-2A visa program for nonimmigrant agricultural workers.
Additionally, the working group will produce an interim report detailing the program’s shortcomings and the impacts on food security and file a final report with recommendations to address the flaws within the program, according to Rep. Thompson’s joint statement.