House Republicans have introduced the Agriculture and Legal Workforce Act, an immigration reform measure that would take the place of the current H-2A visa program. It would require farmers as well as employers to use the E-Verify program to make sure all their workers are in the United States legally. South Dakota Dairy Producers Association President Marv Post is pleased with the bill and hopes it passes.

The measure would authorize up to 450,000 H-2 C Visas annually that would be good for three years. It replaces the H-2A program, which didn’t address year-round workers. Post says that would be helpful for the dairy industry, which needs more than season help.

He says it’s also encouraging Congress is recognizing the need for addressing the labor shortage in agriculture.

The legislation does require workers under the H-2C program to have health insurance, which Post thinks is a reasonable requirement.