6 • September | October 2026 • abasto.com Congress Advances Agricultural Workforce Reform Bill BY HERNANDO RAMÍREZ-SANTOS M ore than 400 agricultural organizations joined the Ag Wage Reform Coalition to support comprehen- sive agricultural labor reform introduced in the House of Representatives. House Agriculture Committee Chairman G.T. Thomp- son formally introduced the Securing Agriculture’s Work- force Act, known as SAWA, on July 1. The coalition called the show of unity one of the broadest in recent memory for farm labor policy, per its statement. A Show of Force on Capitol Hill The backing spans producers, commodity groups, sta- te and national associations, and agribusinesses from across the country, the coalition said in its release. That breadth signals rare alignment across a fractured policy landscape. Dozens of agricultural leaders traveled to Washington to meet with lawmakers. They also joined a Capitol Hill press conference marking the bill’s introduction. Their presence, organizers said, reflected the industry’s shared urgency around building a stable, legal workforce. Chris Butts, spokesperson for the Ag Wage Reform Coa- lition and executive vice president of the Georgia Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association, framed the moment as a turning point. “The bill’s introduction is the result of years of collabo- ration and countless conversations among agricultural organizations, growers and congressional leaders,” Butts said. “The support of more than 400 organizations sends a clear message: agriculture is united behind the need for meaningful workforce reform.” Why Growers Are Pushing for Change Specialty crop growers have wrestled with rising labor costs for years. Workforce shortages and regulatory uncertainty have piled on, according to the press release, threatening the long-term competitiveness of U.S. agriculture. • Several provisions anchor the legislation, per the coalition: • Modernizing the H-2A agricultural guest worker program. • Expanding workforce availability to match employer needs. • Codifying the current Adverse Effect Wage Rate me- thodology for long-term wage certainty. • Streamlining application, certification and hiring processes. • Cutting administrative burdens while preserving worker protections. • Together, these changes aim to replace a patchwork system with something growers can actually plan around. Momentum Meets a Longer Road Ahead The coalition emphasized that the bill reflects years of dialogue between agricultural stakeholders and policy- makers, incorporating recommendations drawn directly from growers and employers nationwide, the release no- tes. Still, Butts was careful not to declare victory. “Introdu- cing the bill is an important step, but our work is far from finished,” he said. “We encourage Congress to build on this momentum and move this legislation forward.” He added that farmers, farmworkers, rural communi- ties and consumers all stand to benefit from a system that works better for everyone. “The momentum we’ve built together demonstrates what’s possible when organizations across commodities, states and regions unite behind a common goal,” Butts concluded. Special Insert Agriculture industry