Overview
Title
To direct the Secretary of Labor to modify the implementation of the adverse effect wage rate for H–2A nonimmigrants.
ELI5 AI
The Supporting Farm Operations Act of 2025 wants to keep the wage for special farm workers from other countries the same from the end of 2023 to the end of 2026. It also suggests looking at the main jobs these workers do when deciding their pay if they have to do different kinds of work.
Summary AI
H. R. 1624 is called the "Supporting Farm Operations Act of 2025" and aims to direct the Secretary of Labor to update how the adverse effect wage rate for H–2A nonimmigrant workers is applied. The bill mandates that the wage rate effective as of December 31, 2023, in each state remains unchanged through December 31, 2026. Additionally, it specifies that the Secretary of Labor should use a primary duties evaluation for wage determination if the workers perform multiple tasks.
Published
Keywords AI
Sources
Bill Statistics
Size
Language
Complexity
AnalysisAI
Overview of the Bill
The "Supporting Farm Operations Act of 2025," officially known as H.R. 1624, aims to address the wage rate implementation for H-2A nonimmigrant agricultural workers. The bill instructs the Secretary of Labor to maintain the adverse effect wage rate that was in effect on December 31, 2023, through December 31, 2026, without any adjustments. Additionally, it introduces a "primary duties evaluation" to address wage determinations for employees whose job roles include multiple duties or tasks.
Significant Issues
One primary issue is the static nature of the wage rate as set in Section 2. The mandate to keep wage rates unchanged for three years could lead to problems if economic conditions, such as inflation or changes in cost of living, fluctuate significantly. If the wage rate becomes outdated, it might adversely affect the livelihood of nonimmigrant workers and the competitiveness of U.S. agricultural operations.
Another concern is the technical nature of the bill's language, particularly references to specific regulations and sections of the Immigration and Nationality Act. This might hinder understanding for individuals not acquainted with legal or regulatory terminology.
Furthermore, Section 3's introduction of a "primary duties evaluation" lacks a clear definition and criteria, which could result in inconsistencies and ambiguities in wage determinations. It remains unclear how this new evaluation method aligns with existing labor laws and its potential impact on compliance and fair compensation.
Broad Public Impact
The bill could impact the agricultural sector by stabilizing labor costs for employers over a specified period. However, this stability might come at the expense of workers if the wage rate does not adapt to economic changes, potentially leading to financial strain for H-2A workers.
On a broader level, maintaining steady wage rates might benefit consumers by preventing sudden changes in agricultural product prices, assuming other economic conditions remain constant. However, if the wage rates become insufficient, there could be a reduction in the supply of agricultural labor, potentially affecting production levels and pricing.
Impact on Specific Stakeholders
Employers in the agricultural sector might find relief in having fixed labor costs, providing some financial predictability and stability. This could enhance operational planning and budgeting over the three-year period.
For H-2A nonimmigrant workers, the impact could be negative if the fixed wage rate fails to keep up with inflation or increases in the cost of living, potentially diminishing their purchasing power. This could also affect their desire to work under these conditions or compel them to seek employment in other sectors or regions.
Finally, the introduction of the "primary duties evaluation" might create confusion and administrative burdens for employers who must determine appropriate wages for employees with diverse job roles. Employees, on the other hand, could face challenges related to wage fairness and consistency.
In conclusion, while the "Supporting Farm Operations Act of 2025" aims to provide stability in wage rates for agricultural workers, its lack of adaptability to economic changes could present significant challenges. Understanding the implications of the bill requires considerable awareness of technical regulations and existing labor laws, making it complex for the general public without appropriate context or simplification.
Issues
The modified implementation of the adverse effect wage rate for H-2A nonimmigrants, as outlined in Section 2, may become problematic if economic conditions change significantly, leading to an outdated or insufficient wage rate. This could impact both the nonimmigrant workers and the competitiveness of U.S. agricultural operations.
Section 2 refers to a specific regulation (20 CFR 655.1308) and a part of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1101(a)(15)(H)(ii)(a)), which may be challenging to understand for individuals not familiar with these references. This technical language could obscure the bill's implications for the general public.
There is a lack of clarity in Section 2 regarding whether there is a mechanism to adjust the adverse effect wage rate if there are significant changes in the cost of living or wage standards during the period specified. This could lead to wage rates that do not reflect current economic realities.
Section 3 introduces a 'primary duties evaluation' for job classification without clearly defining it. This lack of definition could lead to ambiguities in implementing the wage determination process, potentially affecting both employers and employees in terms of compliance and fair compensation.
While Section 3 aims to clarify job classification, it lacks specific criteria or guidance on how the evaluation should handle employees performing more than one duty or task. This absence could result in inconsistencies in wage determinations across different cases.
There is no mention in Section 3 of how the proposed job classification clarification interacts with existing labor laws, potentially creating conflicts or additional challenges for employers and employees if the evaluations lead to contradictory results regarding wage decisions.
Sections
Sections are presented as they are annotated in the original legislative text. Any missing headers, numbers, or non-consecutive order is due to the original text.
1. Short title Read Opens in new tab
Summary AI
The first section of the bill provides the official short title, which is the “Supporting Farm Operations Act of 2025.”
2. Modified implementation of adverse effect wage rate for H–2A nonimmigrants Read Opens in new tab
Summary AI
The section mandates that the wage rate for certain foreign agricultural workers, set as of December 31, 2023, must remain unchanged through December 31, 2026, in each state they work. This ensures consistency in wages for H–2A nonimmigrant workers during this period.
3. Clarification of job classification Read Opens in new tab
Summary AI
The section explains that the Secretary of Labor will use a "primary duties evaluation" to figure out the appropriate wages for workers who have multiple job responsibilities.