AG Act

Summary

Agricultural Guestworker Act or the AG Act - Amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to establish an H-2C nonimmigrant visa for an alien having a residence in a foreign country which he or she has no intention of abandoning and who is coming temporarily to the United States to perform agricultural labor or services. Requires an employer to file an H-2C petition with the Department of Agriculture (USDA) which shall include specified employment-related attestations. Sets forth provisions regarding: (1) penalties; (2) working conditions, wages, and transportation reimbursement; (3) admissions and extensions of stay; (4) abandonment of employment and worker replacement; (5) protection of U.S. workers; (6) legal assistance; (7) fees; and (8) arbitration and mediation. Requires the Secretary of Agriculture to conduct investigations and random audits of employer work sites. Requires an employer to guarantee to offer the worker employment for the hourly equivalent of at least 50% of the work hours during the total anticipated period of employment. Makes an alien who is unlawfully present in the United States on April 25, 2013, eligible to adjust to H-2C status. Establishes in the Treasury a trust fund to provide a monetary incentive for H-2C workers to return to their country of origin upon expiration of their visas. Permits an H-2C worker to perform agricultural labor or services for any "registered agricultural employer" if such worker: (1) is already lawfully present in the United States as an H-2C worker; and (2) has completed the period of employment specified in the job offer the worker accepted, or the employer has terminated the worker's employment. Limits the number of annual fiscal year H-2C admissions. Prohibits the admission of spouses and children of H-2C workers. Extends coverage under the Migrant and Seasonal Agricultural Worker Protection Act to H-2C workers. Sets forth limitations on federal benefits and tax credits. Terminates authority to petition for H-2A temporary agricultural workers two years after enactment of this Act.

This text is taken from the official record. PoliticalRepo does not editorialize.

Timeline

1. 26 April 2013

   Introduced

   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.

   Source: IntroReferral

2. 26 April 2013

   Introduced

   Introduced in House

   Source: IntroReferral

3. 26 April 2013

   Introduced

   Introduced in House

   Source: IntroReferral

4. 16 May 2013

   Referred

   Referred to the Subcommittee on Immigration and Border Security.

   Source: Committee

5. 16 May 2013

   Committee

   Subcommittee Hearings Held.

   Source: Committee

6. 18 June 2013

   Committee

   Subcommittee on Immigration and Border Security Discharged.

   Source: Committee

7. 19 June 2013

   Vote

   Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 20 - 16.

   Source: Committee

8. 19 June 2013

   Committee

   Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.

   Source: Committee

9. 12 December 2014

   Reported

   Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Judiciary. H. Rept. 113-674, Part I.

   Source: Committee

10. 12 December 2014

    Calendars

    Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 506.

    Source: Calendars

11. 12 December 2014

    Discharge

    Committee on Education and the Workforce discharged.

    Source: Discharge

12. 12 December 2014

    Committee

    Committee on Education and the Workforce discharged.

    Source: Committee

13. 12 December 2014

    Reported

    Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Judiciary. H. Rept. 113-674, Part I.

    Source: Committee

Votes

No vote records are attached yet.

Versions

• Reported in House · 12 December 2014 · Official file
• Introduced in House · 26 April 2013 · Official file

Documents

6 official files

• Reported in House (text)

  Reported in House · EN · 12 December 2014

  ViewDownloadOpen at official source

• Reported in House (PDF)

  Reported in House · EN · 12 December 2014

  ViewDownloadOpen at official source

• Reported to House amended, Part I

  summary · EN · 12 December 2014

  Open at official source

• Introduced in House (text)

  Introduced in House · EN · 26 April 2013

  ViewDownloadOpen at official source

• Introduced in House (PDF)

  Introduced in House · EN · 26 April 2013

  ViewDownloadOpen at official source

• Introduced in House

  summary · EN · 26 April 2013

  Open at official source

Sponsors

• ROBERT GOODLATTE · R · Sponsor
• LAMAR SMITH · R · Sponsor
• Trey Gowdy · R · Sponsor
• Blake Farenthold · R · Sponsor
• Rep. Westmoreland, Lynn A. [R-GA-3] · R · Sponsor
• Ted Poe · R · Sponsor
• George Holding · R · Sponsor
• COLLIN PETERSON · D · Sponsor
• Rep. Hurt, Robert [R-VA-5] · R · Sponsor
• Glenn Thompson · R · Cosponsor
• Rep. Bachus, Spencer [R-AL-6] · R · Cosponsor
• Pete Sessions · R · Cosponsor
• · hswm00 · Standing
• · hsed00 · Standing
• · hsju00 · Standing

Related records

No cross-record relationships stored yet.