FARM Stability Act
H-2A Farmworkers: New Wage and Housing Rules
The FARM Stability Act was introduced in the Senate and is currently being reviewed by the Committee on the Judiciary. It is in the early stages of the legislative process and is considered active. There are no upcoming votes scheduled at this time.
Legislative Progress
The bill currently only has Republican support and would likely need votes from both parties to move forward in the Senate.
Key Points
- This bill would change how the government sets pay for temporary foreign farmworkers, known as H-2A workers. Instead of one flat rate, the Labor Department would create two different pay levels based on a worker's experience and training.
- New workers with little experience would be placed in the first pay level. Workers with more experience, special training, or certificates would be in the second level and would earn a higher hourly wage than the beginners.
- The plan also lets employers count the value of the housing they provide toward the worker's total compensation. This would be calculated as an hourly amount based on local rental prices for a four-bedroom home.
- The housing credit cannot take away more than 30 percent of a worker's hourly pay. This is meant to balance the cost of providing housing with the need to ensure workers still take home a fair paycheck.
- Supporters believe these changes will help farmers manage high labor costs while still rewarding experienced workers. Critics may worry that the housing adjustment could lead to lower take-home pay for some laborers.
Impact Analysis
Govbase has not yet run an impact analysis on this legislation.
Milestones
Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
Sent to a congressional committee for expert review. The committee decides whether this bill moves forward.
Introduced in Senate
The bill was officially filed and given a number. It now enters the legislative queue.
Votes
No votes have been recorded for this legislation yet.
News
No related news coverage found for this legislation yet.
Source Information
Document Type
Congressional Bill
Official Title
FARM Stability Act
Data Sources
Sponsor
Cosponsors
(8)Analysis generated by AI. Always verify with official sources.