Congressman Ralph Norman (R-SC), together with U.S. Senator Ted Budd (R-NC) and Senator Tim Scott (R-SC), has led a coalition of 84 lawmakers in urging the Department of Labor to repeal recent regulations affecting American farmers. The group sent a letter to Secretary of Labor Lori Chavez-DeRemer, asking for immediate action on Biden-era changes to the H-2A visa program.
The H-2A visa program allows farmers to hire seasonal labor when domestic workers are unavailable. Lawmakers argue that rule changes under the Biden Administration have made it more difficult for producers to access this workforce and have increased labor costs through adjustments 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 noted some progress from the Department of Labor, such as stopping enforcement of a unionization rule they described as misguided. However, they stated that further steps are needed.
“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 calls on the Department of Labor to collaborate with Congress and President Trump’s Cabinet on several points: rescinding Biden-era H-2A regulations; reforming AEWR methodology; and improving accessibility and flexibility in the H-2A program.
Rep. Ralph Norman has represented South Carolina’s 5th district in Congress since 2017 after previously serving in the South Carolina House of Representatives from 2005 until his election to Congress. He was born in Rock Hill, South Carolina in 1953 and graduated from Presbyterian College in 1975 with a Bachelor of Science degree.
For more information about Rep. Norman’s background: https://norman.house.gov/biography/
