Congressman Don Bacon (NE-02) issued the following statement after voting no on H.R. 5038, the Farm Workforce Modernization Act of 2019, which would establish a certified agricultural worker (CAW) status and change the H-2A temporary worker program:
"I heard from Nebraska farmers and ranchers who overwhelmingly oppose this legislation because it limits wage increases for the next 10 years, restricts the number of visas for 20,000 per year creating a workforce shortfall, and threatens producers’ ability to find legal, skilled workers. This bill also allows a CAW worker to prematurely leave the agriculture sector once they complete their minimum work requirement, ultimately creating a shortfall of agricultural jobs.Our current H-2A program needs improvements, but this bill is flawed and works against the agriculture sector. Until Congress proposes fairer and more effective legislation that provides real solutions, I cannot vote for this bill.”
