Agriculture: 'Fighting for Farmers' While Staying Silent on Farm Workforce Modernization Act

Agriculture / Immigration Source: Multiple Press Releases, Committee Assignments

Statement

Source: Multiple Press Releases, Committee Assignments Reported by: Langworthy.house.gov, Local News Coverage

Throughout 2023-2025: “New York’s farmers and growers are some of the most important drivers of our state and district’s economy.”

Langworthy has repeatedly emphasized his agricultural credentials:

  • Member of House Agriculture Committee
  • Introduced six agriculture-related bills (GRAPE Act, dairy pricing legislation, maple syrup bill, etc.)
  • Regular visits to farms in NY-23
  • “As a proud member of the House Agriculture Committee, I’m committed to ensuring our rural communities have the resources they need to thrive”

The District

NY-23 is heavily agricultural:

  • Major dairy operations throughout Cattaraugus, Chautauqua, and Allegany counties
  • Lake Erie Grape Belt (one of nation’s largest Concord grape regions)
  • Maple syrup production
  • Vegetable and fruit farming
  • Agricultural processing facilities

Labor Reality:

Per USDA Labor Department data, approximately 49% of U.S. farmworkers are undocumented. This percentage is higher for certain sectors like dairy and grape harvesting.

The Bill

Farm Workforce Modernization Act:

  • 118th Congress: H.R. 4319
  • 119th Congress: H.R. 3227
  • Previous versions: H.R. 1603 (117th Congress, passed House 247-174)

What it does:

  • Creates certified agricultural worker (CAW) status for current farmworkers
  • Establishes pathway to legal status for workers meeting certain criteria
  • Reforms H-2A temporary agricultural worker program
  • Includes specific visa allocations for dairy industry
  • Addresses wage requirements and housing standards

Support:

  • American Farm Bureau Federation
  • National Milk Producers Federation
  • National Council of Agricultural Employers
  • Multiple state Farm Bureaus
  • Bipartisan: Has passed House twice with significant Republican support

Langworthy’s Position

What he has NOT done:

Langworthy is not a cosponsor of the Farm Workforce Modernization Act in either the 118th or 119th Congress.

He has made no public statements supporting the legislation.

He has not advocated for its passage despite it being the primary bipartisan solution to farm labor shortages.

What he HAS done:

  • Introduced H.R. 565 (GRAPE Act) - crop insurance for freeze damage
  • Introduced H.R. 3550 (Market-Driven Inventory System) - dairy pricing
  • Introduced H.R. 3638 - maple syrup producer support
  • Cosponsored other agriculture bills focused on pricing, regulation, trade

All of these bills address symptoms of farm struggles. None address the workforce crisis that makes farming operations difficult to maintain.

The Contradiction

Langworthy’s immigration rhetoric vs. agricultural reality:

While opposing pathways to legal status for farmworkers, Langworthy promotes himself as champion of:

Dairy farmers → who depend on immigrant labor for milking operations Grape growers → who depend on immigrant labor for harvest Agricultural processors → who depend on immigrant labor year-round

The Agricultural Community’s Position

New York Farm Bureau (2021): “Farm Bureau supports H.R. 1603 as a vital step toward ensuring the availability of an agricultural workforce and the economic security of farm families.”

National Milk Producers Federation: “Dairy producers face critical labor shortages. This legislation provides the certainty dairy farms need to plan for the future.”

American Farm Bureau Federation President Zippy Duvall (May 2025, upon H.R. 3227 reintroduction): “Agriculture’s workforce crisis demands urgent action… We urge Congress to swiftly move this bipartisan bill.”

What NY-23 Farmers Face Without Reform

Current H-2A Program Problems:

  • Complex application process
  • Lengthy delays (often 6+ months)
  • Not designed for year-round dairy operations
  • High costs for small farms
  • Housing requirements difficult for rural areas

Without legal workforce:

  • Risk of ICE raids disrupting operations
  • Unable to retain experienced workers
  • Difficulty planning long-term farm investments
  • Higher costs passed to consumers

The Pattern

IssueLangworthy’s Position
Dairy pricing✅ Introduced legislation
Grape crop insurance✅ Introduced legislation
Maple syrup support✅ Introduced legislation
Farm labor shortage❌ No support for primary solution
Border security rhetoric✅ Consistent messaging
Immigration reform❌ Opposes pathways to legal status

The 2024 Context

Why this matters for 2024-2025:

Langworthy has used immigration as a central campaign issue, emphasizing border security and opposing “amnesty.”

But his agricultural constituents need legal workforce solutions—not just border enforcement.

The Farm Workforce Modernization Act addresses both:

  • Stricter enforcement provisions
  • Legal status for essential agricultural workers
  • Reformed H-2A program

By remaining silent, Langworthy:

  • Avoids taking a position that might conflict with immigration hardline
  • Leaves NY-23 farmers without the workforce legislation they need
  • Can claim to “fight for farmers” while avoiding the most controversial agricultural issue

Questions This Raises

  1. How can Langworthy claim to champion NY-23 farmers while not supporting the bipartisan legislation the agricultural community has identified as essential?

  2. If 49% of farmworkers are undocumented, how do dairy and grape operations continue without workforce reform?

  3. Why introduce bills for crop insurance and pricing while ignoring the underlying labor crisis that threatens farm viability?

  4. Does opposing all immigration reform while representing an agricultural district create a fundamental policy contradiction?

  5. Would NY-23 farmers prefer workforce solutions or continued uncertainty about their labor supply?

Sources

Legislation:

  • Congress.gov: H.R. 3227 (119th Congress) - Farm Workforce Modernization Act
  • Congress.gov: H.R. 4319 (118th Congress) - Farm Workforce Modernization Act
  • Congress.gov: H.R. 1603 (117th Congress) - passed House 247-174 (March 2021)

Langworthy’s Bills:

  • H.R. 565 - GRAPE Act (Crop Insurance)
  • H.R. 3550 - Dairy pricing legislation
  • H.R. 3638 - Maple syrup support
  • Langworthy.house.gov agriculture press releases (2023-2025)

Agricultural Support:

  • American Farm Bureau Federation: Statement supporting H.R. 3227 (May 2025)
  • National Milk Producers Federation: Farm Workforce Modernization Act support
  • NY Farm Bureau: H.R. 1603 support statement (2021)

Labor Data:

  • USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service: Farm Labor Survey
  • U.S. Department of Labor: Agricultural workforce demographics
  • American Immigration Council: “Farm Workforce Modernization Act of 2021” fact sheet

Congressional Record:

  • House Agriculture Committee records (Langworthy member)
  • Previous FWMA vote records (117th Congress)

Note: This entry documents publicly available information from congressional records, agricultural organizations, and federal labor statistics. Readers may draw their own conclusions.

Last updated: December 30, 2025