A bill aimed at addressing the worker shortage in agriculture and the uncertainty of the farm labor workforce, which has high rates of undocumented workers, passed the House of Representatives with bipartisan support.

The Farm Workforce Modernization Act, coauthored and sponsored by Congressman Mike Simpson, would create a program that allows agricultural workers and their families to earn legal status and would make changes to the H-2A program.

The Idaho Press reports, the bill was introduced in 2019 and has support from 34 Idaho agriculture organizations including the Idaho Dairymans Association.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture reported last year that undocumented workers make up nearly 50% of farmworkers nationwide.

The bill passed the House and now heads to the Senate where it will be introduced by Idaho Sen. Mike Crapo among others.