Congressman John Moolenaar, the only member of the House Appropriations Committee from Michigan, questioned U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Brooke Rollins this week in a budget hearing. In his questioning, Moolenaar secured a commitment from Rollins to address a long term solution on the Adverse Effect Wage Rate (AEWR), which hurts Michigan farmers in it's current formulation by requiring them to pay high wages for H-2A migrant farm workers. 

"Michigan farmers utilize H-2A employees to grow and harvest the food we rely on every day. Unfortunately federal regulations require family farmers who take advantage of the program to take on unsustainable labor costs, making it difficult to make ends meet. I am grateful Secretary Rollins recognizes this and committed today to working with Congress and the Department of Labor to find a long-term solution to the AEWR calculation which will allow Michigan farmers to thrive," Moolenaar said. 

In February, Moolenaar introduced the Supporting Farm Operations Act, bipartisan legislation which sets the AEWR back to 2023 levels and freezes the wage rate until the end of 2026. Michigan farmers who utilize the program are currently required to pay H-2A employees $18.15 per hour, in addition to housing and transportation costs. 

Moolenaar's questioning of Secretary Rollins can be viewed here.

Moolenaar represents the Michigan's 2nd congressional district, and includes all of Barry, Clare, Gladwin, Gratiot, Ionia, Isabella, Lake, Manistee, Mason, Mecosta, Montcalm, Newaygo, Oceana, and Osceola Counties. It also includes portions of Eaton, Kent, Midland, Muskegon, Ottawa, and Wexford Counties. 

_{Release courtesy of John Moolenaar's communications team.}