This bill caps the H–2A temporary agricultural worker program at 400,000 certified positions per fiscal year, down from over 384,000 positions in 2024. The legislation is designed to protect U.S. farmworkers—including those who harvest crops and operate equipment—from wage depression and job displacement caused by the rapid growth of the temporary worker program, which has more than quintupled since 2008. The bill includes an exemption allowing positions to exceed the cap if they are filled by workers represented by a labor union with a collective bargaining agreement. The legislation was introduced in February 2026 by Representative Jayapal and co-sponsors, and it requires action by the Department of Labor to enforce the annual limit on certified temporary worker petitions.
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