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AGRI Act of 2021

USA117th CongressHR-2086| House 
| Updated: 10/19/2021
Eric A. "Rick" Crawford

Eric A. "Rick" Crawford

Republican Representative

Arkansas

Cosponsors (2)
Trent Kelly (Republican)Earl L. "Buddy" Carter (Republican)

Health Subcommittee, Judiciary Committee, Energy and Commerce Committee, Education and Workforce Committee, Immigration Integrity, Security, and Enforcement Subcommittee

  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted
Agricultural Guest Worker Reform Initiative Act of 2021 or the AGRI Act of 2021 This bill revises provisions related to H-2A (temporary agricultural worker) visas, including to eliminate certain requirements to hire U.S. workers, expand the program to include dairy and ranch workers, and shift administrative responsibilities from the Department of Labor to the Department of Agriculture (USDA). The bill establishes a trust fund to be used to (1) administer and enforce the program, (2) collect a portion of guest worker wages to be paid upon a worker's return to the worker's country of origin, and (3) provide emergency medical services for guest workers. The bill eliminates a requirement that, during the first half of the time period of a guest worker contract, certain employers must hire any qualified U.S. employee who applies to perform the job the guest worker was hired to perform. Furthermore, an employer shall not be required to pay a guest worker a wage higher than the highest of federal, state, or local minimum wage rates. The bill places limitations on when guest workers may receive civil legal assistance for low-income individuals. Employer-provided housing shall be governed generally by USDA regulations, where currently such housing must meet applicable federal, state, or local standards. Employers shall not have to provide housing to workers who can reasonably return to their permanent residence within the same day. An employer may file a civil action to recover transportation costs from a guest worker who absconds from a contract.
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Timeline

Bill from Previous Congress

HR 116-3740
AGRI Act of 2019
Mar 19, 2021
Introduced in House
Mar 19, 2021
Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committees on Energy and Commerce, and Education and Labor, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Mar 22, 2021
Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
Oct 19, 2021
Referred to the Subcommittee on Immigration and Citizenship.
  • Bill from Previous Congress

    HR 116-3740
    AGRI Act of 2019


  • March 19, 2021
    Introduced in House


  • March 19, 2021
    Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committees on Energy and Commerce, and Education and Labor, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.


  • March 22, 2021
    Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.


  • October 19, 2021
    Referred to the Subcommittee on Immigration and Citizenship.

Immigration

Administrative law and regulatory proceduresAlternative dispute resolution, mediation, arbitrationCivil actions and liabilityCongressional oversightDepartment of AgricultureEmergency medical services and trauma careEmployee benefits and pensionsEmployee hiringEmployment taxesExecutive agency funding and structureForeign laborGovernment information and archivesGovernment trust fundsHealth care costs and insuranceHousing finance and home ownershipImmigration status and proceduresLabor-management relationsLawyers and legal servicesMigrant, seasonal, agricultural laborSales and excise taxesVisas and passportsWages and earningsWorker safety and health

AGRI Act of 2021

USA117th CongressHR-2086| House 
| Updated: 10/19/2021
Agricultural Guest Worker Reform Initiative Act of 2021 or the AGRI Act of 2021 This bill revises provisions related to H-2A (temporary agricultural worker) visas, including to eliminate certain requirements to hire U.S. workers, expand the program to include dairy and ranch workers, and shift administrative responsibilities from the Department of Labor to the Department of Agriculture (USDA). The bill establishes a trust fund to be used to (1) administer and enforce the program, (2) collect a portion of guest worker wages to be paid upon a worker's return to the worker's country of origin, and (3) provide emergency medical services for guest workers. The bill eliminates a requirement that, during the first half of the time period of a guest worker contract, certain employers must hire any qualified U.S. employee who applies to perform the job the guest worker was hired to perform. Furthermore, an employer shall not be required to pay a guest worker a wage higher than the highest of federal, state, or local minimum wage rates. The bill places limitations on when guest workers may receive civil legal assistance for low-income individuals. Employer-provided housing shall be governed generally by USDA regulations, where currently such housing must meet applicable federal, state, or local standards. Employers shall not have to provide housing to workers who can reasonably return to their permanent residence within the same day. An employer may file a civil action to recover transportation costs from a guest worker who absconds from a contract.
View Full Text

Suggested Questions

Get AI-generated questions to help you understand this bill better

Timeline

Bill from Previous Congress

HR 116-3740
AGRI Act of 2019
Mar 19, 2021
Introduced in House
Mar 19, 2021
Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committees on Energy and Commerce, and Education and Labor, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Mar 22, 2021
Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
Oct 19, 2021
Referred to the Subcommittee on Immigration and Citizenship.
  • Bill from Previous Congress

    HR 116-3740
    AGRI Act of 2019


  • March 19, 2021
    Introduced in House


  • March 19, 2021
    Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committees on Energy and Commerce, and Education and Labor, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.


  • March 22, 2021
    Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.


  • October 19, 2021
    Referred to the Subcommittee on Immigration and Citizenship.
Eric A. "Rick" Crawford

Eric A. "Rick" Crawford

Republican Representative

Arkansas

Cosponsors (2)
Trent Kelly (Republican)Earl L. "Buddy" Carter (Republican)

Health Subcommittee, Judiciary Committee, Energy and Commerce Committee, Education and Workforce Committee, Immigration Integrity, Security, and Enforcement Subcommittee

Immigration

  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted
Administrative law and regulatory proceduresAlternative dispute resolution, mediation, arbitrationCivil actions and liabilityCongressional oversightDepartment of AgricultureEmergency medical services and trauma careEmployee benefits and pensionsEmployee hiringEmployment taxesExecutive agency funding and structureForeign laborGovernment information and archivesGovernment trust fundsHealth care costs and insuranceHousing finance and home ownershipImmigration status and proceduresLabor-management relationsLawyers and legal servicesMigrant, seasonal, agricultural laborSales and excise taxesVisas and passportsWages and earningsWorker safety and health