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Bill

S 5301

Voice for Farm Workers Act

119th Congress Introduced by Cory Booker and 6 co-sponsors

Reauthorizes the Farmworker Coordinator at USDA to ensure ongoing coordination, policy focus, and oversight of farmworker-related programs and issues.

Introduced in Senate
0
WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · S 5301

Summary of Bill: S. 5301 (119th Congress) – A bill to amend the Department of Agriculture Reorganization Act of 1994 to reauthorize the position of Farmworker Coordinator

Purpose and intent

  • The bill aims to reauthorize the position of Farmworker Coordinator within the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), originally established under the Department of Agriculture Reorganization Act of 1994.
  • By reauthorizing this position, the measure seeks to ensure ongoing federal coordination, policymaking attention, and program oversight related to farmworkers and related labor issues within USDA.

Key provisions and changes

  • Reauthorization of the Farmworker Coordinator position: The core provision extends or reinstates statutory authority for maintaining the Farmworker Coordinator role within USDA. This typically includes duties such as coordinating farmworker-related programs, advising USDA leadership on farmworker needs, and ensuring interagency coordination on labor and agricultural workforce issues.
  • Potential alignment with programmatic responsibilities: While the text provided does not detail every duty, reauthorization generally preserves or clarifies responsibilities related to farmworker protections, labor conditions, welfare, housing, health, and access to services as they intersect with agricultural policy.
  • Authorization continuity: The bill ensures that the Farmworker Coordinator remains a recognized, permanent (or reestablished) position within the department, avoiding sunset or lapse in authority.

Who or what would be affected

  • Farmworkers and farm labor programs: The reauthorized coordinator would continue to serve as a focal point for farmworker concerns, potentially influencing program design, funding decisions, and policy recommendations affecting farmworkers.
  • USDA agencies and programs: Key USDA components involved in labor, welfare, housing, health, and agricultural assistance may collaborate with the Farmworker Coordinator for policy development and interagency coordination.
  • Stakeholders and advocates: Farmworker organizations, agricultural employers, researchers, and policymakers could engage with the Coordinator to address labor issues, gather data, and inform legislation or administrative actions.

Procedural and timeline aspects

  • Introduction and referral: The bill was introduced in the Senate and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry on August 6, 2026.
  • Read and sponsor notes: The action history indicates the measure was read twice and introduced with sponsor remarks in the Senate, signaling the early stages of consideration.
  • Next steps: The committee would review, potentially amend, and consider reporting the bill to the full Senate. If advanced, floor consideration would follow, with potential votes and passage or modification. Passage in one chamber would then proceed to the other chamber (House or Senate, depending on jurisdiction) for potential reconciliation.

Sponsors

  • Main and co-sponsors include notable Senators: Elizabeth Warren, Adam Schiff, Ed Markey, Cory Booker, Kirsten Gillibrand, Alex Padilla, and Ron Wyden. This indicates cross-party and cross-ideological interest in farmworker issues and federal coordination.

Note on scope and details

  • The available information provides the bill’s broad objective (reauthorization of the Farmworker Coordinator) but does not include specific statutory language, funding levels, or detailed duties beyond typical reauthorization content. For a more precise impact assessment, the full text and any committee reports would be consulted to identify exact duties, funding authorization, reporting requirements, and any conditional language.

If you’d like, I can incorporate any available text from the bill or committee summaries to refine the provisions and potential fiscal effects.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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