Van Orden Pushes Agricultural Reform to Protect U.S. Food Supply

Wisconsin Republican calls for urgent agricultural workforce solutions to sustain nation's food supply amid turbulent immigration policy debates.

Published October 8, 2025

Rep. Derrick Van Orden is taking charge on one of Wisconsin’s most urgent issues — farm labor. At the World Dairy Expo on Oct. 2, the Republican lawmaker unveiled legislation to fix the broken agricultural visa system, calling it an “80% solution” to the labor crisis threatening America’s food supply.

The bill offers qualified agricultural workers a path to legal status through a straightforward digital process, which Van Orden said would bring much-needed stability to farms and the farmers who sustain the nation.

Van Orden joined other speakers in criticizing the current H-2A program for failing to meet workforce demands, warning that without reform, the U.S. risks dependence on foreign nations for food.

“Those eligible workers would enter a protected status, pay a fine, and re-enter the country lawfully,” Van Orden explained. “Employers would share accountability, and the system would finally make sense. This is not amnesty — it’s restoring law and order while protecting our nation’s food supply.”

“There are four universal truths that I acknowledge: Rocks are heavy, trees are made of wood, gravity is real, and if we deport every single [undocumented] person that’s working in the agriculture industry, the hospitality industry, and the construction industry, all of those… pic.twitter.com/492vDXE495
— American Business Immigration Coalition (ABIC) (@AmericanBIC) October 3, 2025

Van Orden wasn’t the only speaker sounding the alarm bells on the time-sensitive need for reform. He told his audience, “It’s cost-prohibitive to start a new dairy [farm] today. When we lose [farms], they’re gone for good. This isn’t just an ag issue — it’s about whether America can feed itself.”

The ADC’s Laurie Fischer joined Van Orden challenging quick action on this matter while acknowledging the complexity of legal and illegal immigration issues. (RELATED: Tiffany Wants to End Wisconsin’s Woke & Broke Business Climate)

“We’ve been told for 20 years that reform couldn’t happen until the border was secure,” Fischer said. “Well, the border is secure. Now is the time to move something. Let me make it clear: None of us are asking for amnesty — we’re asking for legal, year-round status so our workers and our farms can thrive.”

The Wisconsin Republican is in his second term representing Wisconsin’s 3rd Congressional District, where he’s focused on providing for farmers, veterans and servicemembers. Van Orden serves on several committees, including the House Agriculture Committee. His new legislation titled the Agricultural Reform Act of 2025 currently sits in the House Judiciary committee awaiting action. (RELATED: Prolific Fentanyl Dealer Could Walk Free Due to Delays in Legal System)