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H.R. 5038: Farm Workforce Modernization Act of 2019

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H.R. 5038: Farm Workforce Modernization Act of 2019

116th Congress · introduced 2019-11-12 · Immigration · Latest: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.

federal

Follow this bill, step by step

  1. Where it came from: introduced 2019-11-12 · official record
  2. Who proposed it: Rep. Lofgren, Zoe [D-CA-19] · what a sponsor is
  3. What happened next: 3 recorded votes in our records. Latest: House roll call 673 (2019): On Motion to Recommit with Instructions, HR5038 (2019-12-11), Failed. See all
  4. Where it stands now: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. Not final yet: this can still change. We check for updates every day.
  5. If it becomes law and spends money: follow the money to money laws, then agencies and contracts and grants.

What does this mean?

Official title

Farm Workforce Modernization Act of 2019

Plain summary

Farm Workforce Modernization Act of 2019 This bill contains provisions related to alien farmworkers, including provisions establishing a certified agricultural worker (CAW) status and changing the H-2A temporary worker program. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) may grant CAW status to an applying alien who (1) performed at least 1,035 hours of agricultural labor during the two-year period prior to November 12, 2019, (2) on that date was inadmissible, deportable, or under a grant of deferred enforced departure or temporary protected status, and (3) has been continuously present in the United States from that date until receiving CAW status. The bill imposes additional crime-related inadmissibility grounds on CAW applicants and makes some other grounds inapplicable. CAW status shall be valid for 5.5 years and may be extended. DHS may grant dependent status to the spouse or children of a principal alien. An alien with a pending application may not be detained or removed by DHS and shall be authorized for employment until DHS makes a final decision on the application. A CAW alien (and dependents) may apply for lawful permanent resident status after meeting various requirements, including performing a certain amount of agricultural labor for a number of years. DHS shall create an electronic platform for (1) filing H-2A petitions, (2) facilitating the processing of H-2A cases, and (3) providing agencies a single tool for obtaining H-2A-related case information. The bill makes various changes to the H-2A program, such as (1) modifying the method for calculating and making adjustments to the H-2A worker minimum wage, (2) specifying how an employer may satisfy requirements that it attempted to recruit U.S. workers, (3) requiring H-2A employers to guarantee certain minimum work hours, and (4) making the program available for year-round agricultural work and reserving a visa allocation for the dairy industry. DHS shall establish a pilot program allowing certain H-2A workers to apply for portable status, which gives the worker 60 days after leaving a position to secure new employment with a registered H-2A employer. DHS shall establish an electronic system patterned on the E-Verify Program for employers to verify an individual's identity and employment authorization. Employers hiring individuals for agricultural employment must use the system. This bill permanently establishes the Housing Preservation and Revitalization Program, which provides financing assistance for rural rental housing and off-farm labor housing and rental assistance for qualified tenants of such housing. It also authorizes the Department of Agriculture to provide various assistance, including funding for insuring loans and grants for new farmworker housing.

Congressional Research Service summary (Passed House), quoted unchanged (nonpartisan). Read the source.

What a vote does

A “Yea” vote

If it passes both chambers and is signed, it becomes law.

A “Nay” vote

If it is not passed, current law stays as it is.

PSI Sci description of the legislative step (not an opinion).

What does this mean? (plain words)

Official text

Farm Workforce Modernization Act of 2019

Source: Congressional Research Service summary (Passed House)

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How did my representative vote? · This bill's floor votes

Officials and money

Sponsor: Rep. Lofgren, Zoe [D-CA-19] · 62 cosponsors

Cost estimate: No cost estimate published yet.

Cosponsors on this site

Dan Newhouse (R-WA), Michael K. Simpson (R-ID), Jerrold Nadler (D-NY), Mario Diaz-Balart (R-FL), Linda T. Sánchez (D-CA), Jimmy Panetta (D-CA), Mark E. Amodei (R-NV), James R. Baird (R-IN), Jim Costa (D-CA), Josh Harder (D-CA), Tom Cole (R-OK), John R. Curtis (R-UT), Judy Chu (D-CA), Elissa Slotkin (D-MI), J. Luis Correa (D-CA), Sylvia R. Garcia (D-TX), Elise M. Stefanik (R-NY), Salud O. Carbajal (D-CA), Angie Craig (D-MN), Brian K. Fitzpatrick (R-PA), Norma J. Torres (D-CA), Kim Schrier (D-WA), Lloyd Smucker (R-PA), Scott H. Peters (D-CA), Jason Crow (D-CO), John Garamendi (D-CA), Thomas R. Suozzi (D-NY), Henry Cuellar (D-TX), Chellie Pingree (D-ME), Mike Thompson (D-CA), Raul Ruiz (D-CA), Veronica Escobar (D-TX) and 2 more.

Sponsor's campaign money: Rep. Lofgren, Zoe [D-CA-19] reported raising $2.0 million (2025–2026). Details. Shown for context only; it does not mean any donor supported this bill.

Recorded votes

Words on this page, explained (3)
Authorization
A law that creates or continues a government program and says what it may do, often with a suggested spending ceiling. An authorization alone does not provide money; a separate appropriation does.
Bill
A proposed law. It becomes law only if it passes the legislature and is signed by the president or governor (or a veto is overridden).
Securities
Financial investments that can be bought and sold, such as stocks and bonds.

Plain meanings written from linked sources. All words.

Sources

Record fed-us-cong116-hr5038 · catalog fed-us-congress-bills-cong116 · updated 2026-11-15 by psicol fed-bills-cong116