Bill Sponsor
House Bill 2086
117th Congress(2021-2022)
Agricultural Guest Worker Reform Initiative Act of 2021
Introduced
Introduced
Introduced in House on Mar 19, 2021
Overview
Text
Introduced
Mar 19, 2021
Latest Action
Oct 19, 2021
Origin Chamber
House
Type
Bill
Bill
The primary form of legislative measure used to propose law. Depending on the chamber of origin, bills begin with a designation of either H.R. or S. Joint resolution is another form of legislative measure used to propose law.
Bill Number
2086
Congress
117
Policy Area
Immigration
Immigration
Primary focus of measure is administration of immigration and naturalization matters; immigration enforcement procedures; refugees and asylum policies; travel and residence documentation; foreign labor; benefits for immigrants. Measures concerning smuggling and trafficking of persons may fall under Crime and Law Enforcement policy area. Measures concerning refugees may fall under International Affairs policy area.
Sponsorship by Party
Republican
Arkansas
Republican
Mississippi
House Votes (0)
Senate Votes (0)
No House votes have been held for this bill.
Summary

Agricultural Guest Worker Reform Initiative Act of 2021 or the AGRI Act of 2021

This bill revises provisions related to H-2A (temporary agricultural worker) visas, including to eliminate certain requirements to hire U.S. workers, expand the program to include dairy and ranch workers, and shift administrative responsibilities from the Department of Labor to the Department of Agriculture (USDA).

The bill establishes a trust fund to be used to (1) administer and enforce the program, (2) collect a portion of guest worker wages to be paid upon a worker's return to the worker's country of origin, and (3) provide emergency medical services for guest workers.

The bill eliminates a requirement that, during the first half of the time period of a guest worker contract, certain employers must hire any qualified U.S. employee who applies to perform the job the guest worker was hired to perform.

Furthermore, an employer shall not be required to pay a guest worker a wage higher than the highest of federal, state, or local minimum wage rates.

The bill places limitations on when guest workers may receive civil legal assistance for low-income individuals.

Employer-provided housing shall be governed generally by USDA regulations, where currently such housing must meet applicable federal, state, or local standards. Employers shall not have to provide housing to workers who can reasonably return to their permanent residence within the same day.

An employer may file a civil action to recover transportation costs from a guest worker who absconds from a contract.

Text (1)
March 19, 2021
Actions (4)
10/19/2021
Referred to the Subcommittee on Immigration and Citizenship.
03/22/2021
Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
03/19/2021
Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committees on Energy and Commerce, and Education and Labor, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
03/19/2021
Introduced in House
Public Record
Record Updated
Jan 11, 2023 1:48:07 PM