Congressman Valadao Co-Sponsors Legislation to Address Labor Shortages in the Central Valley ... introduce the H-2 Improvement to Relieve Employers (HIRE) Act. The bill makes improvements to H-2A and H-2B visa programs to make them more responsive to employer needs.
Support legislation to improve H-2A and H-2B visa programs so they better meet employer needs.
Occurrences
That’s why I’m proud to support the bipartisan Securing Agriculture’s Workforce Act, which modernizes the program by clarifying that ‘temporary labor’ refers to the length of a farmworker’s contract—not whether the job itself is seasonal. It also creates a pathway for eligible undocumented agricultural workers to earn H-2A status and provide for their families.
Evidence
Congress.gov lists H.R.3227 as introduced May 7, 2025, with Rep. David Valadao included among the members for whom Rep. Zoe Lofgren introduced the bill. The bill title says it would amend the Immigration and Nationality Act for nonimmigrant workers performing agricultural labor or services. The tracker status is Introduced and latest action is referral to House committees on May 7, 2025.
The H.R.3227 table of contents includes 'Reforming the H-2A Temporary Worker Program,' 'Comprehensive and streamlined electronic H-2A platform,' 'H-2A program requirements,' and 'Portable H-2A visa pilot program.' The bill text authorizes H-2A workers to start new or concurrent employment upon filing a nonfrivolous H-2A petition and creates a pilot program to connect portable H-2A workers with registered agricultural employers seeking workers.
The House Clerk records Roll Call 93 on March 18, 2021, for passage of H.R.1603, the Farm Workforce Modernization Act. The measure passed 247-174, with 30 Republicans voting yea. The vote list records 'Valadao Republican California CA Yea.'
Congress.gov lists H.R.4393 as introduced by Rep. Salazar for herself and others including Mr. Valadao. Section 1503 would allow Western Hemisphere facilities to offer employment consultation and applications for aliens seeking legal work visas and other legal pathways. The bill status shown is Introduced.
Assessments
Valadao has taken serious legislative action toward the promise, especially by joining the Farm Workforce Modernization Act of 2025, which includes direct H-2A reforms such as portability, electronic processing, and employer matching. He also previously voted for House passage of a similar H-2A reform bill in 2021. However, the cited record does not show enacted legislation or completed federal implementation, and the evidence is weak or incomplete on H-2B reforms. Because the promised outcome was to support legislation improving both H-2A and H-2B programs so they better meet employer needs, the record supports effort but not fulfillment.