<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8" standalone="no"?>
<billStatus>
  <version>3.0.0</version>
  <bill>
    <number>1778</number>
    <updateDate>2024-07-24T15:23:12Z</updateDate>
    <updateDateIncludingText>2024-07-24T15:23:12Z</updateDateIncludingText>
    <originChamber>House</originChamber>
    <originChamberCode>H</originChamberCode>
    <type>HR</type>
    <introducedDate>2023-03-24</introducedDate>
    <congress>118</congress>
    <constitutionalAuthorityStatementText><![CDATA[<pre>[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 54 (Friday, March 24, 2023)][House]From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [<a href="https://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]By Mr. ALLEN:H.R. 1778.Congress has the power to enact this legislation pursuantto the following:Article 1, Section 8, Clause 1 of the United StatesConstitution.The single subject of this legislation is:To amend the H2A visa program.[Page H1438]</pre>]]></constitutionalAuthorityStatementText>
    <committees>
      <item>
        <systemCode>hsju00</systemCode>
        <name>Judiciary Committee</name>
        <chamber>House</chamber>
        <type>Standing</type>
        <activities>
          <item>
            <name>Referred to</name>
            <date>2023-03-24T13:00:20Z</date>
          </item>
        </activities>
      </item>
    </committees>
    <actions>
      <item>
        <actionDate>2023-03-24</actionDate>
        <text>Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.</text>
        <type>IntroReferral</type>
        <actionCode>H11100</actionCode>
        <sourceSystem>
          <code>2</code>
          <name>House floor actions</name>
        </sourceSystem>
        <committees>
          <item>
            <systemCode>hsju00</systemCode>
            <name>Judiciary Committee</name>
          </item>
        </committees>
      </item>
      <item>
        <actionDate>2023-03-24</actionDate>
        <text>Introduced in House</text>
        <type>IntroReferral</type>
        <actionCode>Intro-H</actionCode>
        <sourceSystem>
          <code>9</code>
          <name>Library of Congress</name>
        </sourceSystem>
      </item>
      <item>
        <actionDate>2023-03-24</actionDate>
        <text>Introduced in House</text>
        <type>IntroReferral</type>
        <actionCode>1000</actionCode>
        <sourceSystem>
          <code>9</code>
          <name>Library of Congress</name>
        </sourceSystem>
      </item>
    </actions>
    <sponsors>
      <item>
        <bioguideId>A000372</bioguideId>
        <fullName>Rep. Allen, Rick W. [R-GA-12]</fullName>
        <firstName>Rick</firstName>
        <lastName>Allen</lastName>
        <party>R</party>
        <state>GA</state>
        <middleName>W.</middleName>
        <district>12</district>
        <isByRequest>N</isByRequest>
      </item>
    </sponsors>
    <policyArea>
      <name>Immigration</name>
    </policyArea>
    <subjects>
      <legislativeSubjects/>
      <policyArea>
        <name>Immigration</name>
        <updateDate>2023-04-11T19:30:31Z</updateDate>
      </policyArea>
    </subjects>
    <summaries>
      <summary>
        <versionCode>00</versionCode>
        <actionDate>2023-03-24</actionDate>
        <actionDesc>Introduced in House</actionDesc>
        <updateDate>2023-11-15T20:22:18Z</updateDate>
        <text><![CDATA[ <p><b>Better Agriculture Resources Now Act or the BARN Act</b></p> <p>This bill revises the H-2A visa program (temporary agricultural workers), moves administration of the program from the Department of Labor to the Department of Agriculture, and addresses other immigration issues. </p> <p>The bill eliminates a statutory provision calling for the 50% rule, which requires an H-2A employer to hire any qualified U.S. applicants until half of the time period on an H-2A worker's contract has elapsed.</p> <p>The bill also revises requirements for employer-provided housing or housing allowances for H-2A workers, including standards for such accommodations. The employer shall request an inspection to certify that the housing meets the required standards. </p> <p>An employer shall not be required to pay an H-2A worker more than 115% of the federal or applicable state minimum wage, whichever is higher.</p> <p>Non-U.S. nationals (<i>aliens</i> under federal law) admitted as H-2A workers who overstay their visas are barred from the program for five years. Individuals admitted on the basis of fraud or who commit certain crimes are barred permanently. Employers who knowingly hire H-2A workers who overstay their visas or employers who engage in fraud or misrepresentation shall be barred from the program.</p> <p>The bill also prohibits the Legal Services Corporation (LSC) from providing legal assistance for a non-U.S. national unless (1) the non-U.S. national is present in the United States, and (2) the parties have attempted to mediate in good faith. An H-2A employer is not required to allow an entity receiving LSC funding to enter the employer's property without an appointment with a specific H-2A worker.</p>]]></text>
      </summary>
    </summaries>
    <title>BARN Act</title>
    <titles>
      <item>
        <titleType>Display Title</titleType>
        <titleTypeCode>45</titleTypeCode>
        <title>BARN Act</title>
        <updateDate>2024-07-24T15:23:12Z</updateDate>
      </item>
      <item>
        <titleType>Short Title(s) as Introduced</titleType>
        <titleTypeCode>101</titleTypeCode>
        <title>BARN Act</title>
        <updateDate>2024-05-24T13:41:29Z</updateDate>
        <billTextVersionName>Introduced in House</billTextVersionName>
        <billTextVersionCode>IH</billTextVersionCode>
      </item>
      <item>
        <titleType>Short Title(s) as Introduced</titleType>
        <titleTypeCode>101</titleTypeCode>
        <title>Better Agriculture Resources Now Act</title>
        <updateDate>2024-05-24T13:41:29Z</updateDate>
        <billTextVersionName>Introduced in House</billTextVersionName>
        <billTextVersionCode>IH</billTextVersionCode>
      </item>
      <item>
        <titleType>Official Title as Introduced</titleType>
        <titleTypeCode>6</titleTypeCode>
        <title>To reform the H-2A program for nonimmigrant agricultural workers, and for other purposes.</title>
        <updateDate>2024-03-18T20:30:40Z</updateDate>
        <billTextVersionName>Introduced in House</billTextVersionName>
        <billTextVersionCode>IH</billTextVersionCode>
      </item>
    </titles>
    <textVersions>
      <item>
        <type>Introduced in House</type>
        <date>2023-03-24T04:00:00Z</date>
        <formats>
          <item>
            <url>https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/BILLS-118hr1778ih/xml/BILLS-118hr1778ih.xml</url>
          </item>
        </formats>
      </item>
    </textVersions>
    <latestAction>
      <actionDate>2023-03-24</actionDate>
      <text>Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.</text>
    </latestAction>
  </bill>
  <dublinCore xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">
    <dc:format>text/xml</dc:format>
    <dc:language>EN</dc:language>
    <dc:rights>Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.</dc:rights>
    <dc:contributor>Congressional Research Service, Library of Congress</dc:contributor>
    <dc:description>This file contains bill summaries and statuses for federal legislation. A bill summary describes the most significant provisions of a piece of legislation and details the effects the legislative text may have on current law and federal programs. Bill summaries are authored by the Congressional Research Service (CRS) of the Library of Congress. As stated in Public Law 91-510 (2 USC 166 (d)(6)), one of the duties of CRS is "to prepare summaries and digests of bills and resolutions of a public general nature introduced in the Senate or House of Representatives". For more information, refer to the User Guide that accompanies this file.</dc:description>
  </dublinCore>
</billStatus>
