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WASHINGTON D.C.– Congressman Ralph Norman (R-SC), along with U.S. Senator Ted Budd (R-NC) and Senator Tim Scott (R-SC), led a bipartisan, bicameral coalition of 84 lawmakers in sending a letter to Secretary of Labor Lori Chavez-DeRemer urging the Department of Labor to immediately repeal burdensome Biden-era regulations that are crushing America’s farmers and threatening our food supply.

At issue are rule changes to the H-2A visa program, a key tool used by farmers as an option of last resort to secure reliable seasonal labor. These changes, first introduced under the Biden Administration, have made it harder for producers to access a legal, dependable workforce, all while dramatically increasing labor costs through changes to the Adverse Effect Wage Rate (AEWR).

“Farmers in South Carolina and across the country are being stretched to the breaking point. Between soaring input costs, workforce shortages, and now increased labor expenses imposed by the Biden Administration, it’s no wonder so many family farms are struggling to keep their doors open,” said Rep. Norman. “The Department of Labor has a responsibility to work with—not against—our agricultural producers. That starts by rolling back these harmful rules and restoring clarity, consistency, and common sense to the H-2A program.”

In their letter, lawmakers emphasized that while the Department has made some recent progress, including halting enforcement of a misguided unionization rule, much more must be done to reverse the damage already inflicted.

“Enforcement of this rule directly contributes to higher food costs for all Americans,” the lawmakers wrote. “We encourage you to fully rescind this out-of-touch rule to create more pragmatic labor wages for America’s farmers.”

The letter urges the Department to work collaboratively with Congress and President Trump’s Cabinet to:

• Rescind Biden-era H-2A labor regulations;
• Reform the AEWR methodology to prevent unsustainable wage spikes; and,
• Improve the H-2A program’s accessibility and flexibility for American producers.

For a full list of signers and to read the full text of this letter, click HERE.