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HR 1720 112th Congress House

H-2A Improvement Act

Official title: To improve the H-2A agricultural worker program for use by dairy workers, sheepherders, and goat herders, and for other purposes.

Introduced: May 4, 2011 See on congress.gov
Immigration Foreign laborImmigration status and proceduresLabor standardsLivestock
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Migrant, seasonal, agricultural laborVisas and passports
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This bill died when the 112th Congress ended
It never became law before the 112th Congress (2011–2012) adjourned, and bills don't carry over to the next Congress. It would have to be reintroduced. You can still save it for reference, but it won't receive updates.
 Everywhere this bill has been 3 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Jun 1, 2011
Referred to the Subcommittee on Immigration Policy and Enforcement.
May 4, 2011
Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
May 4, 2011
Introduced in House
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 Latest action June 1, 2011

Referred to the Subcommittee on Immigration Policy and Enforcement.

 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

H-2A Improvement Act - Amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to include within the H-2A nonimmigrant visa category (temporary agricultural workers) an alien coming temporarily to the United States to work as a sheepherder, goat herder, or dairy worker. Exempts an employer filing a petition to employ such a worker from the requirement to show that the position is of a seasonal or temporary nature.

Provides for a three-year initial period of admission with additional three-year extensions.

Authorizes such alien to petition to become a lawful permanent resident after having worked as a sheepherder, goat herder, or dairy worker in the United States for not fewer than 33 of the preceding 36 months.

 Related & companion bills 3
  • HR 3232 Related bill H-2A Improvement Act
  • S 1697 Related bill DASH Act
  • S 852 Identical bill H-2A Improvement Act
 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 2
 Cosponsors 3
All 3 Democratic 1
Polis, Jared
· Jul 10, 2012
WOOLSEY, LYNN
· May 26, 2011
 D
Welch, Peter
Vermont · May 4, 2011
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 1720: H-2A Improvement Act. 112th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/112-HR-1720/
MLA
"H.R. 1720: H-2A Improvement Act." 112th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/112-HR-1720/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 1720, 112th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/112-HR-1720/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 1720: H-2A Improvement Act](https://openamerica.io/bill/112-HR-1720/)
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