We have received text from H.R. 5596: Freeze AEWR and Restore Monetary Sense Act. This bill was received on 2025-09-26, and currently has 11 cosponsors.
Here is a short summary of the bill:
This bill, titled the "Freeze AEWR and Restore Monetary Sense Act" or "FARMS Act," proposes to temporarily halt the calculation of the Adverse Effect Wage Rate (AEWR) for two years. The AEWR is the minimum wage that employers must pay to nonimmigrant workers in certain visa categories, specifically those working in agriculture under the H-2A visa program.
Key Provisions of the Bill
- Authority to Retain AEWR: The bill allows the Secretary of Labor to keep the existing AEWR in place for a period of two years from the date the bill is enacted.
- Condition for Retention: This retention is contingent upon the Secretary's determination that there is no valid method available to calculate a new AEWR during that time frame.
Impact on Wage Calculation
The AEWR is intended to ensure that nonimmigrant workers are not paid less than the average wage for similar jobs in the U.S. However, the bill seeks to maintain the existing wage level instead of recalculating it based on current labor market conditions. If the Secretary of Labor cannot find a suitable method to reassess or update the AEWR, the current wage will remain in effect.
Objective
The aim of this legislation appears to be providing stability in wage rates for agricultural employers during a period of uncertainty regarding calculation methods, while also avoiding potential wage adjustments that might adversely affect their operational budgets.
Conclusion of Summary
Overall, the FARMS Act seeks to provide a temporary pause on changes to wage requirements for nonimmigrant agricultural workers, thereby locking in a wage rate that was established before the bill's enactment until an appropriate recalculation method is determined.
Relevant Companies
- MONS (Monsanto) - As a major agricultural company, any changes in labor wage requirements could significantly impact their hiring practices and cost structures.
- CARG (Cargo Holdings) - This company might be affected by labor costs associated with agricultural operations relying on H-2A workers.
Representative John R. Moolenaar Bill Proposals
Here are some bills which have recently been proposed by Representative John R. Moolenaar:
- H.R.5596: FARMS Act
- H.R.4519: District of Columbia Sister City Integrity Act
- H.R.4142: No Adversarial AI Act
- H.R.4043: Line 5 Act
- H.R.3194: LOCOMOTIVES Act
- H.R.2914: NO LIMITS Act of 2025
You can track bills proposed by Representative John R. Moolenaar on Quiver Quantitative's politician page for Moolenaar.
Representative John R. Moolenaar Net Worth
Quiver Quantitative estimates that Representative John R. Moolenaar is worth $524.5K, as of October 9th, 2025. This is the 392nd highest net worth in Congress, per our live estimates.
Moolenaar has approximately $0 invested in publicly traded assets which Quiver is able to track live.
You can track Representative John R. Moolenaar's net worth on Quiver Quantitative's politician page for Moolenaar.
This article is not financial advice. See Quiver Quantitative's disclaimers for more information.
