Congress freezes farm worker wages while inflation erodes their pay

What it does

This bill freezes the minimum wage that agricultural employers must pay H-2A temporary foreign workers at the level that existed on December 31, 2023, through the end of 2026, preventing any increases. It also directs the Labor Department to use a 'primary duties' test when classifying workers' job categories for wage purposes, which may allow employers to pay lower wages if a worker's main task falls into a lower-wage category even if they perform higher-wage work.

Why we flagged it

The bill's operative mechanism is a wage freeze for a vulnerable workforce, coupled with a classification rule that creates downward wage pressure. The stated purpose ('supporting farm operations') masks a direct labor-cost reduction for agricultural employers at workers' expense.

What the text implies

• The 'primary duties evaluation' language is vague and may allow employers to reclassify workers into lower wage categories retroactively or prospectively, creating wage-suppression incentives beyond the freeze itself.
• A 3-year wage freeze during inflationary periods (2024–2026) represents a real wage cut for H-2A workers, who have no collective bargaining power and limited recourse.
• Domestic agricultural workers may experience indirect wage suppression if employers substitute H-2A labor at frozen rates, reducing competitive pressure on domestic wages.
• The bill does not address whether the freeze applies to state-level adjustments or only federal AEWR; ambiguity may invite litigation and regulatory confusion.

Section numbers refer to the bill text the analysis read — linked under Primary records below.

Who it affects

H-2A workers—predominantly low-income foreign nationals with limited bargaining power—face wage stagnation over a 3-year period while inflation erodes their real earnings. Domestic agricultural workers may also face downward wage pressure if employers substitute cheaper H-2A labor. The 'primary duties' clarification creates ambiguity that favors employer classification into lower wage tiers.

Who stands to gain

• agricultural employers (farms, agribusiness)
• labor-intensive agricultural operations

Named in the bill

Secretary of Labor, H-2A nonimmigrants, 20 CFR 655.1308, Immigration and Nationality Act Section 101(a)(15)(H)(ii)(a), agricultural employers

Where it stands

14 cosponsors: 12 Republicans, 2 Democrats.

• Feb 26, 2025 — Introduced · Congress.gov: “Introduced in House”
• Feb 26, 2025 — Referred to House Committee on the Judiciary · Congress.gov: “Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary”

Dates and quoted wording are Congress.gov's action record; the timeline shows status changes, not every procedural step.

Money around this bill

3 lobbying clients named this bill on 4 disclosure filings across 3 quarters, Dec 2025 to Jun 2026. Those filings disclosed $445,000 in lobbying spend. A filing names 2 bills on average, so that figure is what each filing reported, not a share belonging to this bill.

More lobbying clients named this bill than 61% of bills with at least one filing.

John Moolenaar, the sponsor, reported $595,100 in PAC receipts in the 2026 cycle.

• International Fresh Produce Association (fka United Fresh Produce Association) — $355,000 on 1 filing
• Michigan Farm Bureau — $80,000 on 2 filings
• South Carolina Peach Council — $10,000 on 1 filing

Lobbying Disclosure Act filings through Jul 20, 2026. A filing shows who paid to lobby on a bill it names, not what changed.