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 H-2A Adverse Effect Wage Rate methodology.
Codify the U.S. Department of Labor's H-2A Adverse Effect Wage Rate methodology to stabilize agricultural labor costs.
Occurrences
The measure would codify the Trump Administration’s Interim Final Rule from the U.S. Department of Labor to amend the H-2A Temporary Agricultural Worker program Adverse Effect Wage Rate (AEWR) determining methodology.
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. This legislation aims to provide farmers with greater certainty and clarity when forecasting labor costs as they plan for future growing seasons.
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. This legislation aims to provide farmers with greater certainty and clarity when forecasting labor costs as they plan for future growing seasons.
Evidence
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. This legislation aims to provide farmers with greater certainty and clarity when forecasting labor costs as they plan for future growing seasons.
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. Hyde-Smith is an original cosponsor of the Farmworker Access and Retention Modernization (FARM) Stability Act (S.4249), which was introduced by U.S. Senator Ted Budd (R-N.C.) last week. The measure would codify the Trump Administration’s Interim Final Rule from the U.S. Department of Labor to amend the H-2A Temporary Agricultural Worker program Adverse Effect Wage Rate (AEWR) determining methodology.
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. This legislation aims to provide farmers with greater certainty and clarity when forecasting labor costs as they plan for future growing seasons.
Last Action Date Listed: March 26, 2026. Action: 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.
Bill S.4249 ... Title A bill 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. Last Action 03/26/2026.
Assessments
Tim Scott materially advanced the promised policy by joining as an original co-sponsor/co-introducer of S.4249, the FARM Stability Act, which would codify the Department of Labor H-2A AEWR methodology. However, the record shows only introduction and referral to the Senate Judiciary Committee on March 26, 2026, with no enactment or completed codification. Because the bill remains a pending same-term legislative effort rather than a failed final outcome, the promise is not yet delivered but should be treated as unresolved with an effort badge.
Senator Tim Scott co-introduced legislation (the FARM Stability Act) to codify the Department of Labor's H-2A Adverse Effect Wage Rate methodology, directly addressing the campaign promise. However, no evidence indicates that the bill was enacted into law or that the methodology was successfully codified. Therefore, the promise was not delivered, despite substantial legislative effort.
Senator Tim Scott co-introduced the FARM Stability Act to codify the Department of Labor's H-2A Adverse Effect Wage Rate methodology, matching the campaign promise. However, there is no evidence that the legislation passed into law or that the methodology was successfully codified. Serious legislative effort was made, but the promised outcome was not delivered.