WASHINGTON — House Agriculture Committee Chairman Glenn Thompson introduced legislation to expand the H-2A visa program by removing seasonal requirements. The bill limits the visa to a maximum of 350 days per year while maintaining its temporary nature. It extends access to year-round agricultural sectors such as dairies, forestry, aquaculture, and livestock production. The legislation also includes a provision allowing existing unauthorized workers to apply, though it does not offer a pathway to permanent residency. Forty-five Republicans and four Democrats have co-sponsored the bill.

Thompson said the effort aligns with the interests of the agricultural community despite falling outside his committee's direct jurisdiction. "While this may not be in our jurisdiction, it is certainly in the interest of the farmers and ranchers, and foresters that we represent," Thompson said.

The H-2A program, established in the 1980s, allows agricultural employers to hire foreign farmworkers on a temporary basis when domestic workers are unavailable. The program primarily provides workers from Mexico for tasks such as picking, fertilizing, and pruning crops. Visa usage increased from 62,743 in 2012 to nearly 400,000 in 2025.

Dairy, cattle, and pork producers are seeking access to the program. The Agriculture Department estimates that half of all crop farmworkers lack authorization, and more than half of workers in the dairy industry are undocumented. Last year, the Labor Department warned that increasing immigration enforcement resources could lead to supply chain disruptions.

In June 2026, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services issued a memo clarifying that some dairies could access H-2A visas if they demonstrated seasonal labor needs. Dairy farmer Cricket Jacquier addressed the guidance. "A lot of us are still trying to figure out exactly what that meant," Jacquier said. She added, "For me, it really raised dairy to the top and recognizes that there is a serious problem in the dairy industry and they want to do something about that."

Martin Durban, a senior vice president, cited a Congressional Budget Office report projecting a decline in the working-age population. "You can't grow the economy with a shrinking workforce," Durban said. He stated, "Now that the administration has secured the border, it's time to address the rest of our immigration system."

The House Judiciary Committee must approve any bill related to immigration and visas for it to advance.