Bill > HR6122

This bill, known as the Better Agriculture Resources Now (BARN) Act, reforms the H-2A program for nonimmigrant agricultural workers by making several significant changes to immigration law. The bill transfers administrative oversight of the H-2A program from the Secretary of Labor to the Secretary of Agriculture, expands the definition of agricultural labor to include more handling and processing activities, and introduces several worker and employer-related modifications. Key provisions include establishing a 15-day application review deadline with automatic approval if not met, allowing employers to set experience requirements (but not counting work done in illegal status), eliminating the existing 50-percent recruitment rule, capping wage rates at 115 percent of federal and state minimum wages, and limiting initial nonimmigrant status to one year with a possible one-year extension. The bill also mandates housing provisions for workers, including the option for housing allowances in states with adequate migrant housing, restricts legal assistance for agricultural workers, and establishes new penalties for workers and employers who violate program rules, such as preventing readmission for overstays or fraudulent entries. These reforms aim to streamline the agricultural worker visa process while providing protections for both employers and workers.

Justice

https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/6122/all-info