A bipartisan working group of the House Committee on Agriculture recently concluded a major review of the H-2A Visa program.  Recommendations include:

• Expanding the program from seasonal to year-round eligibility to meet the needs of specific sectors of agriculture including dairy, hogs and poultry
• Establishing standard wage rates based on duration of daily labor
• Expediting procedural improvements in the face of an urgent need to legally employ additional workers

It is now up to both the House and the Senate to modify existing laws and for Federal and State agencies involved to cooperate to provide for a legal pathway to employ eligible workers.