Washington, D.C. - Today, U.S. Rep. Terri Sewell (AL-07) voted to pass H.R. 6, the American Dream and Promise Act, and H.R. 1603, the Farm Workforce Modernization Act, two landmark pieces of legislation to modernize and reform our immigration system. 

“Our country is at its strongest when we embrace our immigrant communities. I was proud today to vote in favor of two historic immigration bills that will strengthen protections for our Dreamers and our farmworkers,” said Rep. Terri Sewell. “The COVID-19 pandemic and resulting economic crisis has inflicted a devastating toll on immigrant communities and essential frontline workers, including our farmworkers, making the protections in these bills vitally important.”

“The American Dream and Promise Act acknowledges the important contributions made by our nation’s Dreamers to our economy and to our communities by providing a lawful pathway to citizenship,” continued Sewell. “The Farm Workforce Modernization Act provides stability, predictability and fairness to the workers who feed America. These bills will work in tandem to ensure our immigrant communities can continue to pursue their American dream as they strengthen, enrich and contribute to our nation.”

The American Dream and Promise Act:.

• Establishes a path to lawful permanent resident (LPR) status for Dreamers and for certain individuals who either held or were eligible for (Temporary Protected Status) TPS or (Deferred Enforced Departure) or DED.  The majority of these individuals have been in the United States for much of their lives, often with work authorization and temporary protections against deportation. Five years after attaining full LPR status, individuals are then eligible to apply for citizenship, a path that is supported by nearly 75 percent of the American public. 
• Promotes justice and fairness for our nation’s Dreamers, and for the TPS and DED holders who fled ongoing armed conflict and other extraordinary conditions to come to this country. 

The Farm Workforce Modernization Act:

• Stabilizes the agricultural sector and preserves our rural heritage by ensuring that farmers can meet their labor needs by establishing a program for agricultural workers, their spouses and minor children to earn legal Certified Agricultural Worker (CAW) status through continued agricultural employment.  
• Reforms the H-2A temporary agricultural worker program to provide more flexibility for employers, while ensuring critical protections for workers.  
• Establishes a mandatory, nationwide E-Verify system to ensure compliance with the reformed H-2A visa program while also protecting workers’ due process rights to ensure a legal workforce for the agriculture sector.