H.R. 5038Farm Workforce Modernization Act of 2019

3 recorded actions193 of these members are on the 2026 ballotWhat the measure does Read on Congress.gov

Sponsor: Zoe Lofgren [D-CA-19]
Cosponsors: 62 · 37 Democrats · 25 Republicans
Policy area: Immigration
Committees: Judiciary Committee, Ways and Means Committee · and 2 more
Latest action: Dec 12, 2019 · Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.

IntroducedNov 12, 2019
Passed the HouseDec 11, 2019
Passed the SenateNot yet reached
Sent to the PresidentNot yet reached
Became lawNot yet reached

What the measure doesCRS summary

Farm Workforce Modernization Act of 2019

This bill contains provisions related to alien farmworkers, including provisions establishing a certified agricultural worker (CAW) status and changing the H-2A temporary worker program.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) may grant CAW status to an applying alien who (1) performed at least 1,035 hours of agricultural labor during the two-year period prior to November 12, 2019, (2) on that date was inadmissible, deportable, or under a grant of deferred enforced departure or temporary protected status, and (3) has been continuously present in the United States from that date until receiving CAW status. The bill imposes additional crime-related inadmissibility grounds on CAW applicants and makes some other grounds inapplicable.

CAW status shall be valid for 5.5 years and may be extended. DHS may grant dependent status to the spouse or children of a principal alien.

An alien with a pending application may not be detained or removed by DHS and shall be authorized for employment until DHS makes a final decision on the application.

A CAW alien (and dependents) may apply for lawful permanent resident status after meeting various requirements, including performing a certain amount of agricultural labor for a number of years.

DHS shall create an electronic platform for (1) filing H-2A petitions, (2) facilitating the processing of H-2A cases, and (3) providing agencies a single tool for obtaining H-2A-related case information.

The bill makes various changes to the H-2A program, such as (1) modifying the method for calculating and making adjustments to the H-2A worker minimum wage, (2) specifying how an employer may satisfy requirements that it attempted to recruit U.S. workers, (3) requiring H-2A employers to guarantee certain minimum work hours, and (4) making the program available for year-round agricultural work and reserving a visa allocation for the dairy industry.

DHS shall establish a pilot program allowing certain H-2A workers to apply for portable status, which gives the worker 60 days after leaving a position to secure new employment with a registered H-2A employer.

DHS shall establish an electronic system patterned on the E-Verify Program for employers to verify an individual's identity and employment authorization. Employers hiring individuals for agricultural employment must use the system.

This bill permanently establishes the Housing Preservation and Revitalization Program, which provides financing assistance for rural rental housing and off-farm labor housing and rental assistance for qualified tenants of such housing. It also authorizes the Department of Agriculture to provide various assistance, including funding for insuring loans and grants for new farmworker housing.

Written by the nonpartisan Congressional Research Service, describing H.R. 5038 as passed House on Dec 11, 2019. It is not the text of the measure; a later amendment may have changed what it does.

Roll calls on H.R. 50383 roll calls on this measure

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Dec 11, 2019Each bar: ✓ Yea from the bottom, ✕ Nay aboveDec 11, 2019

How every member votedHouse roll call 674

House Dec 11, 2019 · the primary vote

On Passage

Farm Workforce Modernization Act

Passed

260 Yea 165 Nay 5 not voting · 1 present

Party-line vote 37 of 425 voting members broke with their own party: 3 Democrats, 34 Republicans.

Open the official roll call

How the chamber split

One dot per member. Select a seat or a bar to filter the list.

DemocratsRepublicansFilled: YeaRing: NayGrey: not voting or present

By party select a segment to filter

All members431 members

Democratic233 members

Republican198 members

marks half of the votes cast. A party’s majority is the side most of its voting members took.

Cosponsors62 · 37 Democrats · 25 Republicans

Signing on is not a vote: a member can cosponsor H.R. 5038 and vote against it. 49 signed when it was filed.

RDan Newhouse [R-WA-04]Original

DCOLLIN PETERSON [D-MN-07]Original

RMichael K. Simpson [R-ID-02]Original2026 profile

DJerrold Nadler [D-NY-10]Original

RMario Diaz-Balart [R-FL-25]Original2026 profile

DLinda T. Sánchez [D-CA-38]Original2026 profile

RDoug LaMalfa [R-CA-01]Original

DJimmy Panetta [D-CA-20]Original2026 profile

RMark E. Amodei [R-NV-02]Original

DTJ Cox [D-CA-21]Original

RJames R. Baird [R-IN-04]Original2026 profile

DJim Costa [D-CA-16]Original2026 profile

Loading the public record

Who lobbied on H.R. 503852 organizations

Organizations that named H.R. 5038 in a lobbying disclosure. Only those that cited the bill by number appear, so this is a floor, not a full list.

BIPARTISAN POLICY CENTER ACTION

Housing · Transportation · Financial Institutions/Investments/Securities · Health Issues +7 more7 filings · 4th Quarter (Oct 1 - Dec 31) 2020Filing

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE OF THE U.S.A.

Defense · Civil Rights/Civil Liberties · Accounting · Aerospace +45 more7 filings · 4th Quarter (Oct 1 - Dec 31) 2020Filing

NATIONAL MILK PRODUCERS FEDERATIONIts PAC: National Milk Producers Federation PAC

Clean Air and Water (quality) · Trade (domestic/foreign) · Agriculture · Taxation/Internal Revenue Code +8 more6 filings · 4th Quarter (Oct 1 - Dec 31) 2020Filing

UFW FOUNDATIONfiled by UFW FOUNDATION, ADRIENNE DERVARTANIAN

Agriculture · Environment/Superfund · Chemicals/Chemical Industry · Immigration +3 more6 filings · 4th Quarter (Oct 1 - Dec 31) 2020Filing

CALIFORNIA STATE ASSOCIATION OF COUNTIESfiled by PARAGON GOVERNMENT RELATIONS

Telecommunications · Disaster Planning/Emergencies · Law Enforcement/Crime/Criminal Justice · Welfare +6 more5 filings · 4th Quarter (Oct 1 - Dec 31) 2020Filing

COALITION ON HUMAN NEEDS

Health Issues · Housing · Labor Issues/Antitrust/Workplace · Civil Rights/Civil Liberties +9 more5 filings · 4th Quarter (Oct 1 - Dec 31) 2020Filing

EDGE DAIRY FARMER COOPERATIVEIts PAC: Edge Dairy Farmer Cooperative PAC

Trade (domestic/foreign) · Agriculture · Environment/Superfund · Immigration +1 more5 filings · 4th Quarter (Oct 1 - Dec 31) 2020Filing

EDGE DAIRY FARMER COOPERATIVE (FORMERLY EDGE)filed by TORREY ADVISORY GROUP (FORMERLY MICHAEL TORREY ASSOCIATES, LLC)Its PAC: Edge Dairy Farmer Cooperative PAC

Immigration · Agriculture · Environment/Superfund · Trade (domestic/foreign)5 filings · 4th Quarter (Oct 1 - Dec 31) 2020Filing

FARMERS EDUCATIONAL COOPERATIVE UNION OF AMERICA

Trade (domestic/foreign) · Banking · Health Issues · Budget/Appropriations +10 more5 filings · 4th Quarter (Oct 1 - Dec 31) 2020Filing

IDAHO DAIRYMEN'S ASSOCIATIONfiled by THE GARRISON GROUP LLC

Fuel/Gas/Oil · Food Industry (safety, labeling, etc.) · Clean Air and Water (quality) · Trade (domestic/foreign) +6 more5 filings · 4th Quarter (Oct 1 - Dec 31) 2020Filing

164 disclosures name this measure. Retrieved from LDA.gov on 2026-10-05. Senate Office of Public Records cannot vouch for the data or analyses derived from these data after the data have been retrieved from LDA.gov.