U.S. Senator Ted Budd (R-N.C.) led several of his Senate colleagues in introducing the Farmworker Access and Retention Modernization (FARM) Stability Act today, which would codify the U.S. Department of Labor’s (DOL) initiative to stabilize agricultural labor costs.
Introduce and work to pass legislation codifying the Department of Labor’s initiative to stabilize agricultural labor costs.
Occurrences
The bill, known as the Farmworker Access and Retention Modernization Stability Act, proposes updates to wage regulations for H-2A agricultural workers. It aims to give the Secretary of Labor the authority to set annual wage rates for these workers based on their skill levels...The bill introduces a 2-tiered wage structure for H-2A workers...Additionally, the bill includes provisions for adjusting wages to account for housing provided to H-2A workers.
U.S. Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.) has joined a legislative effort to stabilize agricultural labor costs by providing farmers with greater certainty and clarity when forecasting labor costs as they plan for future growing seasons.
U.S. Senator Tim Scott (R-SC) joined Senator Ted Budd (R-NC) in introducing the Farmworker Access and Retention Modernization (FARM) Stability Act, which would codify the U.S. Department of Labor’s (DOL) initiative to stabilize agricultural labor costs.
Senator Ted Budd (R-NC) joined ... in introducing legislation to stabilize agriculture labor costs by providing farmers greater certainty and clarity when forecasting this critical operating expense as they plan for future growing seasons.
The bill, known as the Farmworker Access and Retention Modernization Stability Act, proposes updates to wage regulations for H-2A agricultural workers. It aims to give the Secretary of Labor the authority to set annual wage rates for these workers based on their skill levels. ... The bill introduces a 2-tiered wage structure for H-2A workers, classifies jobs into skill levels, and adjusts compensation for housing.
To authorize, if applicable, the Secretary of Labor to annually establish a 2-tiered wage rate for H–2A workers that distinguishes between entry-level and experience-level workers and to annually establish a compensation adjustment factor to account for the value of housing provided to H–2A workers.
Senator Ted Budd (R-NC) [joined in] introducing legislation to stabilize agriculture labor costs by providing farmers greater certainty and clarity when forecasting this critical operating expense as they plan for future growing seasons.
The bill, known as the Farmworker Access and Retention Modernization Stability Act, proposes updates to wage regulations for H-2A agricultural workers. It aims to give the Secretary of Labor the authority to set annual wage rates for these workers based on their skill levels... the bill includes provisions for adjusting wages to account for housing provided to H-2A workers.
Evidence
verified · Source version 63234 · locator 610
U.S. Senator Ted Budd (R-N.C.) led several of his Senate colleagues in introducing the Farmworker Access and Retention Modernization (FARM) Stability Act today, which would codify the U.S. Department of Labor’s (DOL) initiative to stabilize agricultural labor costs.
unverified · Source version 51 · locator unknown
U.S. Senator Tim Scott (R-SC) joined Senator Ted Budd (R-NC) in introducing the Farmworker Access and Retention Modernization (FARM) Stability Act, which would codify the U.S. Department of Labor’s (DOL) initiative to stabilize agricultural labor costs.
unverified · Source version 52 · locator unknown
U.S. Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.) has joined a legislative effort to stabilize agricultural labor costs by providing farmers with greater certainty and clarity when forecasting labor costs as they plan for future growing seasons.
unverified · Source version 5083 · locator unknown
U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Chairman John Boozman (R-AR) joined Senator Ted Budd (R-NC) in introducing legislation to stabilize agriculture labor costs by providing farmers greater certainty and clarity when forecasting this critical operating expense as they plan for future growing seasons.
unverified · Source version 5084 · locator unknown
Mr. Budd (for himself, Mr. Scott of South Carolina, Mrs. Hyde-Smith, Mr. Boozman, Mr. Crapo, Mr. Ricketts, Mr. Tillis, Ms. Lummis, and Mr. Wicker) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
unverified · Source version 63234 · locator unknown
U.S. Senator Ted Budd (R-N.C.) led several Senate colleagues in introducing the Farmworker Access and Retention Modernization (FARM) Stability Act today, which would codify the U.S. Department of Labor’s initiative to stabilize agricultural labor costs.
unverified · Source version 5084 · locator unknown
Mr. Budd introduced the bill; it was read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
unverified · Source version 63229 · locator unknown
The Department’s proposed timeline does not constitute a prompt addressing of the IFR’s deficiencies, and its proposed schedule would keep the unlawful IFR in place for two years following its 2025 enactment.
verified · Source version 63231 · locator 5598
The Court concluded that the methodology established in the IFR is unlawful but did not vacate the IFR and left in place the AEWRs previously issued under the IFR.
verified · Source version 63231 · locator 5929
The current AEWRs will remain in effect until the publication of new AEWRs. OFLC will notify the public when a new AEWR methodology is set and provide relevant transition procedures at that time.
unverified · Source version 63233 · locator unknown
The Court therefore finds the IFR unlawful and remands to DOL to promptly generate a new methodology for calculating AEWRs.
verified · Source version 63236 · locator 581
Mr. Budd (for himself, Mr. Scott of South Carolina, Mrs. Hyde-Smith, Mr. Boozman, Mr. Crapo, Mr. Ricketts, Mr. Tillis, Ms. Lummis, and Mr. Wicker) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary
Assessments
Verified evidence shows Ted Budd materially advanced the commitment by leading and formally introducing the FARM Stability Act, which was read twice and referred to committee. That satisfies the introduction component and supports partial credit. The verified record does not show the legislation was enacted or that the DOL initiative was codified; later verified DOL passages show the underlying wage methodology remained legally unsettled. Because introduction alone does not fulfill passage/codification, the outcome is partial rather than delivered.
Sen. Budd formally introduced and led the Farmworker Access and Retention Modernization (FARM) Stability Act (S.4249) to codify the DOL initiative and amassed cosponsors, with multiple official press releases and GovInfo confirming introduction and referral to committee (March–April 2026). There is no evidence the bill was enacted or that the legislative goal was achieved; therefore the promise was not fulfilled, though Budd made a clear legislative effort to advance it.
Senator Ted Budd introduced and led the FARM Stability Act, which sought to codify the Department of Labor’s initiative to stabilize agricultural labor costs. Multiple sources confirm the bill was introduced, co-sponsored, and referred to committee. However, there is no evidence the legislation was passed into law or fully enacted, so the promise of codifying the initiative was only partially fulfilled.
Senator Ted Budd introduced the FARM Stability Act in the same term, directly fulfilling his promise to introduce legislation codifying the Department of Labor’s initiative to stabilize agricultural labor costs. Multiple reputable sources confirm the bill was introduced and referred to committee. However, there is no evidence this legislation was enacted or passed into law, so while the introduction and active effort are demonstrated, the promise to 'work to pass' legislation remains incomplete.
Senator Ted Budd introduced legislation (the FARM Stability Act) to codify the Department of Labor’s initiative to stabilize agricultural labor costs, fulfilling the 'introduce and work to pass' portion of the promise. However, there is no evidence that the legislation was enacted or resulted in a delivered policy outcome. Thus, the promise is partially fulfilled: the legislative attempt was made within the same term, but the outcome was short of full passage and implementation.
Senator Ted Budd introduced the FARM Stability Act, which directly aligns with his promise to introduce and work to pass legislation codifying the Department of Labor’s initiative to stabilize agricultural labor costs. Multiple pieces of evidence confirm the introduction and active legislative effort. However, there is no evidence the legislation passed into law, so the outcome cannot be marked as fully delivered.