Congressman Jimmy Panetta: Bill would protect existing farmworkers, promotes enduring ag workforce

The central coast of California has deep roots with people who come to this country and work in agriculture. The willingness of people to take risks and work hard has greatly contributed to the success of our local agriculture and a sustained food production on American soil.

Unfortunately, our current immigration system does not recognize those vital contributions to our economy and communities and has left many agriculture workers unprotected and unable to fully integrate into our society. To remedy that issue, my Congressional colleagues and I authored and introduced the Farm Workforce Modernization Act which protects our existing farmworkers and promotes an enduring workforce for agriculture.

The bipartisan legislation will guarantee certainty for the hard-working farmworkers who have been helping feed the world for decades. This legislation recognizes the essential contributions of our current, experienced workforce by creating a first-of-its-kind, merit-based visa program specifically designed for the nation's agricultural sector. Those current workers with significant farm experience are provided access to five-year visas, which provide immediate security to both American farmers and the workers they have come to depend on. With a modernized, employment-based immigration system, farmworkers who have become experts in our fields – thanks to decades of service to America's farms – will have the option to earn legal status and permanent residence in the United States to ensure the stability of our agriculture.

This legislation also will provide certainty for farmers by overhauling and modernizing the H-2A program to ensure real access to a strong workforce. Gone is the need to file distinct applications and petitions with various agencies at different points along the growing season. Instead, employers will file a single, streamlined electronic application to cover an entire season's labor needs. Employers will no longer face wildly fluctuating wage rates or outdated newspaper advertising requirements. Stabilized wage requirements provide predictability and protection from mid-season wage changes, making it simpler for farmers to seek and retain needed workers. For the first time, this bill will provide a legal source of immigrant labor to agricultural sectors with year-round labor needs. By increasing flexibility for farmworkers to match with new employers and by making significant improvements and investments in rural housing, this bill will offer much-needed stability and fairness for farms and farmworkers across America.

Finally, with the above reforms in place, the bill will mandate the use of the E-Verify employment eligibility verification system in the agricultural industry. By adapting our immigration system to meet the needs of the agricultural sector, we can ensure access to a safe and legal workforce, encouraging farmworkers to come out of the shadows and continue contributing to our society, legally and without fear.

Farmworkers and a workable H-2A program are vital for the sustainability of farms and farming communities across the country. The current and outdated regulations and mandates that accompany the program hurt both our farmers and farmworkers. With the Farm Workforce Modernization Act, farmers on the Central Coast and across the country will finally have access to the dependable and experienced workforce they need and farmworkers will get the legality and dignity they deserve.

Immigrant farmworkers are not only the backbone of our nation's agriculture industry, they and their families are the heart and soul of many of our local rural communities. They plant and harvest the food that goes on our dinner tables and enrich the social, cultural, and historical fabric of our society. The Farm Workforce Modernization Act is a critical, bipartisan step forward for both our farmers and farmworkers that will help ensure the continued success of our agriculture and America.

Jimmy Panetta, D-Carmel Valley, is a member of the United States House of Representatives for California's 20th congressional district.