The Louisiana Legislature has adopted a resolution urging the United States Congress to modify the H-2A nonimmigrant visa program to alleviate the financial burdens placed on Louisiana farmers due to rising wage rates. The resolution highlights the significant increase in the Adverse Effect Wage Rate (AEWR) for agricultural workers, which has risen by 25% over the past five years, creating unsustainable costs for farmers who rely on affordable labor. The resolution calls for Congress to take action to make agricultural labor more accessible and to reduce the regulatory compliance burden associated with maintaining a workforce.

Specifically, the resolution requests that Congress rescind the current AEWR and maintain H-2A worker wages at January 2023 levels, as well as mandate that wage obligations for H-2A workers be based solely on the Farm Labor Survey. The Louisiana Legislature emphasizes the importance of the H-2A program for the sustainability and competitiveness of American agriculture, asserting that aligning wage obligations with the Farm Labor Survey is a necessary step to ensure the viability of agricultural operations and to keep consumer prices stable. A copy of the resolution will be sent to relevant congressional leaders and Louisiana's congressional delegation.