AmericanHort members Scott Giesbrecht of Green Circle Growers, Ariana Cabrera de Oña of Costa Farms, Alan Jones of Manor View Farm, and Jim Saunders of Saunders Brothers proudly stood with Chairman Glenn “GT” Thompson (R-PA-15) and the bill’s co-sponsors at the June 30 press conference in support of H.R. 9535, the Securing Agriculture’s Workforce Act of 2026 (SAWA).

SAWA would modernize key aspects of the H-2A program, including reforms to the AEWR determination process, improvements to H-2A hiring, expanding to landscapers, and help simplify use for greenhouse operations. The bill has 50 cosponsors and over 400 groups supporting it, including AmericanHort.

Matt Mika, Vice President, Advocacy and Government Affairs, made the following statement: “AmericanHort applauds House Agriculture Committee Chairman Glenn ‘GT’ Thompson (R-PA-15) for his leadership and foresight in advancing meaningful H-2A reform. The Securing Agriculture’s Workforce Act recognizes the labor realities facing the horticulture industry and takes important steps to streamline the program, improve workforce flexibility, and provide greater certainty for employers and workers alike. This legislation is the result of years of bipartisan work led by Chairman GT Thompson, the House Agriculture Committee, and committee staff who stepped forward to tackle a longstanding challenge that many were unwilling to take on. We look forward to continuing our work with congressional leaders, staff, and industry partners to advance reforms that strengthen the competitiveness of U.S. horticulture, support green industry businesses, and ensure a stable, reliable workforce for the future.