HR 4092 115th Congress House

AG Act

Official title: To create a nonimmigrant H-2C work visa program for agricultural workers, and for other purposes.

Introduced: October 23, 2017 See on congress.gov

Immigration Administrative law and regulatory proceduresAlternative dispute resolution, mediation, arbitrationAquacultureDepartment of Labor

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Employee benefits and pensionsFood industry and servicesForeign laborForests, forestry, treesGovernment trust fundsHealth care costs and insuranceHealth care coverage and accessImmigration status and proceduresIncome tax creditsMigrant, seasonal, agricultural laborSeafoodTemporary and part-time employmentVisas and passportsWages and earningsWorker safety and health

Everywhere this bill has been 5 steps

Introduced

In committee

Reported out

Passed House

Passed Senate

To President

Became law

Oct 25, 2017

Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 17 - 16.

Oct 25, 2017

Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.

Oct 23, 2017

Referred to the Subcommittee on Immigration and Border Security.

Oct 23, 2017

Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committees on Education and the Workforce, and Ways and Means, 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.

Oct 23, 2017

Introduced in House

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Latest action October 25, 2017

Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 17 - 16.

Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Agricultural Guestworker Act or the AG Act

This bill amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to establish a new H-2C nonimmigrant visa for aliens having a residence in a foreign country which they have no intention of abandoning and who are coming temporarily to the United States to perform agricultural labor or services.

An employer seeking to employ aliens as H-2C workers must file a petition with the Department of Homeland Security and provide required information.

The maximum period of authorized status for temporary or seasonal H-2C workers is 18 months. For aliens not employed as temporary or seasonal workers, the maximum initial period is 36 months with subsequent periods of 18 months.

A trust fund is established to provide a monetary incentive for H-2C workers to return to their countries of origin upon expiration of their visas.

The bill establishes annual fiscal year H-2C admission limits.

The bill also sets forth provisions regarding: (1) penalties for failure to pay wages or required benefits, (2) working conditions and wages, (3) admissions and extensions of stay, (4) abandonment of employment and worker replacement, (5) protection of U.S. workers, and (6) arbitration and mediation of employment-related claims of H-2C workers.

Related & companion bills 1

Bill text 1 version