What They Are Saying About Thompson's Bipartisan Agricultural Labor Reform Bill

WASHINGTON, D.C. — This week, U.S. Representative Glenn “GT” Thompson (PA-15) held a press conference with co-sponsors and stakeholders celebrating the introduction of H.R. 9535, the Securing Agriculture’s Workforce Act of 2026. This legislation is supported by more than 400 stakeholder groups across the entire agricultural supply chain. 
 

Keep reading to see what key groups are saying about this critical legislation and view the full list of all supporters here. 
 

AGRICULTURE WORKFORCE COALTION MEMBERS

“We commend Chairman GT Thompson for his leadership in developing and advancing the Securing Agriculture’s Workforce Act (SAWA), a critical step toward addressing the labor challenges facing American farmers, ranchers and growers. SAWA is supported by an unprecedented coalition spanning specialty crops, dairy, row crops and other agricultural sectors, reflecting broad agreement that meaningful workforce reform is urgently needed. By modernizing and streamlining the H-2A program, expanding access to legal agricultural workers and providing greater certainty for farmers and their employees, this legislation will strengthen the nation’s farm economy and help ensure our food security.”

Agriculture Workforce Coalition Members include: American Farm Bureau Federation, AmericanHort, Florida Fruit & Vegetable Association, International Fresh Produce Association, National Council of Agricultural Employers, National Council of Farmer Cooperatives, National Milk Producers Federation, National Potato Council, Northwest Horticultural Council, U.S. Apple Association, USA Farmers, Western Growers.
 

U.S. CHAMBER OF COMMERCE 

“The U.S. Chamber of Commerce thanks the sponsors of the Securing Agriculture’s Workforce Act (SAWA) for their leadership in advancing a thoughtful, bipartisan approach to modernizing the H-2A visa program. Building on the strong border security achieved during this Administration, the SAWA recognizes that a stable and reliable agricultural workforce is essential to maintaining our nation’s food supply and supporting broader economic and national security. By helping producers meet critical labor needs, SAWA represents an important step toward strengthening America’s resilience and long term growth.” 

AMERICAN BUSINESS IMMIGRATION COALITION AGRICULTURAL COUNCIL
"Today, about 70% of workers in the U.S. farm sector are foreign-born, with nearly 40% being undocumented," said Rebecca Shi, American Business Immigration Coalition CEO. "Farmers are struggling to maintain workforce stability in a sector where a single day's delay can ruin a harvest, and where daily, time-sensitive task cannot wait. As Americans face rising grocery bills, the Securing Agriculture's Workforce Act finally opens the door to address the urgent needs of farmers by providing workers a path to legal status to keep food on tables across this nation."
 

U.S. CUSTOM HARVESTERS, INC 

“The Securing Agriculture’s Workforce Act is a significant step toward reforming the H-2A program by reducing costs and improving efficiencies, ensuring that custom harvesters, combiners, and silage cutters can access the workforce needed to support farmers nationwide,” said Raph Jolliffe, president of U.S. Custom Harvesters, Inc. 

FARM CREDIT COUNCIL 

“As I have traveled across the country to visit Farm Credit teams and customer-owners, it is clear that a dependable and consistent workforce is essential for the farmers and ranchers who feed, fuel, and clothe America,” said Christy Seyfert, Farm Credit Council president and CEO. “A modernized H-2A program will ensure producers can access the dependable workforce needed to maintain operations and support a safe, stable food supply. As a member of the Agriculture Workforce Coalition, Farm Credit Council is encouraged by the introduction of the bipartisan Securing Agriculture’s Workforce Act, and we look forward to its progress through the legislative process.” 

AMERICAN BEEKEEPING FEDERATION 

“As the National Association which speaks for all Beekeepers in the U.S., this bill is a must for helping keep our industry alive,” said Debbie Seib, American Beekeeping Federation president. “Many of our Commercial Beekeepers are struggling to stay in business and this bill will go a long way to helping them. We need to do all we can to support this bill." 

MEAT INSTITUTE 

“Chairman Thompson has worked hard to address a chronic shortage of ag labor, one of the top concerns facing the meat and poultry industry,” said Meat Institute President and CEO Julie Anna Potts. “We thank him for his leadership and his important recognition that the meat and poultry processing sector must have access to labor for the benefit of the entire value chain from livestock producers to consumers. His bill allows meat and poultry processors to participate in the H-2A visa program. This is a good first step to help packers and processors keep the rural economy moving and to ensure American consumers have access to affordable food.” 

AGRICULTURAL RETAILERS ASSOCIATION 

"Agricultural retailers cannot serve farmers without a dependable workforce. The Securing Agriculture's Workforce Act (SAWA) provides practical, long-overdue reforms that will strengthen the agricultural supply chain, improve access to labor, and help ensure America's farmers have the products and services they need when they need them," said Hunter Carpenter, ARA senior director of government affairs. "ARA strongly supports this legislation and applauds Chairman Thompson for advancing meaningful agricultural labor reform."  

LIVESTOCK MARKETING ASSOCIATION 

“The Livestock Marketing Association applauds Chairman Thompson and his team for introducing the Securing Agriculture's Workforce Act as a meaningful step to address the longstanding labor shortages facing the agriculture sector and especially the livestock industry,” said Mike VanMaanen, owner Eastern Missouri Commission Company, and Livestock Marketing Association's chairman of the board. “By streamlining the H-2A process, providing greater access to the program including allowing livestock auction markets to participate, removing the seasonality requirement, and improving efficiency and certainty for employers, this bipartisan legislation will help ensure a stable, reliable, and legal workforce to feed and fuel our nation.” 

Full text of the bill can be found here. Read a summary of the bill here.