Dr. Rand Paul Introduces Bill to Reduce Paperwork for Kentucky Agriculture Industry & Streamline H-2A Visa Program

Press Release

Recently, U.S. Senator Rand Paul (R-KY) introduced the Paperwork Reduction for Farmers and H-2A Modernization Act, a bill providing much needed regulatory relief to Kentucky's agriculture community by reducing red tape and streamlining temporary agriculture worker visa programs.

By allowing certain categories of temporary workers currently under the capped H-2B program, such as those in the equine and livestock industries, to apply through the uncapped H-2A program, this legislation would ensure Kentucky farmers are able to hire and retain the workers they need. It would simultaneously reform the H-2A application system, alleviating unnecessary bureaucratic delays from an outdated application system.

"My Paperwork Reduction for Farmers and H-2A Modernization Act provides a commonsense solution to a frustrating problem by reforming our antiquated H-2A and H-2B temporary worker programs to meet the labor needs of Kentucky's entire agriculture community. By providing greater flexibility within the programs, increasing reliability from season to season, and eliminating unnecessary regulatory burdens, my bill gets government out of the way so these Kentucky farmers and industries can grow, succeed, and continue supporting the Commonwealth's economy," said Dr. Paul.

Over the last several years, Sen. Paul has led the charge to enact necessary reforms to our outdated temporary worker programs. His past legislation to streamline the H-2A program, introduced in 2016 and again in 2017, came from listening to Christian County farmers and working directly with them to ensure the bill addressed their issues. In 2018, the Trump Administration responded to the push for reform and announced their intention to streamline the H-2A program. Dr. Paul's Paperwork Reduction for Farmers and H-2A Modernization Act is a continuation of his efforts on behalf of Kentucky's agriculture community.

Source