Fairness for Farm Workers Act

ASKED TO SUPPORT THE FOLLOWING: - S.3848/H.R.7046, the Supporting Farm Operations Act, which would freeze the Adverse Effect Wage Rate (AEWR) at the level that was established in 2023 until end of 2025. - H.J.Res.134/H.J.Res.135, the Congressional Review Act disapproving of DOL's "Improving Protections for Workers in Temporary Agricultural Employment in the United States" rule (Docket #: ETA-2023-0003). Had conversations with PA delegation over PFB's concerns of DOL's Improving Protections for Workers in Temporary Agricultural Employment in the United States. ASKED TO OPPOSE THE FOLLOWING: - S.2253/H.R.4579, the Fairness for Farm Workers Act, which would require employers to compensate agricultural workers for hours worked in excess of their regular hours (i.e., 55 hours in 2022, 50 hours in 2023, 45 hours in 2024, and 40 hours in 2025) at not less than one and one-half times the employee's regular rate. This would essentially remove the agricultural exemption from the overtime requirements of the FLSA. - DOL's March 2023 AEWR calculation/methodology rule (Docket #: ETA-2021-0006), which would increase H-2A employers' cost even more by changing the methodology for how the AEWR is calculated. NEUTRAL/MONITORED BUT NOT LOBBIED BILLS: - S.4069, the Affordable and Secure Food Act, which would be a comprehensive reform to the H-2A program. OTHER: - Asked members to complete PFB's advocacy email asking House and Senate members to cosponsor S.3848/H.R.7046 (see description above). - Had conversations with PA House and Senate Members over PFB's concerns with OSHA's proposed rulemaking regarding heat illness (Docket #:OSHA-2021-0009). This would protect indoor and outdoor workers from hazardous heat, and obtain additional information about the extent and nature of hazardous heat in the workplace and the nature and effectiveness of interventions and controls used to prevent heat-related injury and illness. However, the provisions would be extremely difficult for agricultural employers to comply with because the temperature for when the proposed rule kicks in would be 85 degrees.

Client expense: $10,000 · Firm income: Not reported

Government targets: HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, SENATE