I 
115TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION 
H. R. 281 
To amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to simplify the petitioning 
procedure for H–2A workers, to expand the scope of the H–2A program, 
and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JANUARY 4, 2017 
Ms. STEFANIK introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
Committee on the Judiciary 
A BILL 
To amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to simplify 
the petitioning procedure for H–2A workers, to expand 
the scope of the H–2A program, and for other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Family Farm Relief 
Act of 2017’’. 
SEC. 2. SECRETARY OF AGRICULTURE TO ADMINISTER H– 
2A PROGRAM. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 218 of the Immigration 
and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1188) is amended by strik-
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ing the term ‘‘Secretary of Labor’’ each place it appears 
and inserting ‘‘Secretary of Agriculture’’. 
(b) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendment made by 
subsection (a) shall take effect on the date that is 1 year 
after the date of enactment of this Act. 
SEC. 3. ELECTRONIC FILING SYSTEM FOR H–2A PETITIONS. 
Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment 
of this Act, the Secretary of Agriculture shall establish 
a process for receiving petitions for nonimmigrant visas 
under section 101(a)(15)(H)(ii)(a) of the Immigration and 
Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1101(a)(15)(H)(ii)(a)). In es-
tablishing such process, the Secretary shall ensure— 
(1) that petitioners may file such petitions over 
the Internet on an Internet Web page of the Sec-
retary; 
(2) that any software developed to process such 
petitions on such Internet Web page shall indicate to 
the petitioner any technical deficiency in the applica-
tion prior to submission; and 
(3) that each petitioner shall be able to file 
such petition in a paper format. 
SEC. 4. REPEAL OF 50-PERCENT DOMESTIC WORKFORCE 
REQUIREMENT. 
Subparagraph (B) of section 218(c)(3) of the Immi-
gration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1188(c)(3)) is re-
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pealed, and any rule made by the Secretary of Labor or 
the Secretary of Homeland Security to carry out such sub-
paragraph may not continue in effect. 
SEC. 5. PREVAILING PRACTICES SURVEY. 
In the case of an employer petitioning under section 
218 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 
1188), the submission of a prevailing practice survey re-
garding employment practices shall not be required. 
SEC. 6. ALTERATION OF REGION OF REFERENCE. 
Section 218(b)(3) of the Immigration and Nationality 
Act (8 U.S.C. 1188(b)(3)) is amended by striking ‘‘within 
a multi-state region of traditional or expected labor sup-
ply’’ and inserting ‘‘within an area of 150 square miles 
in the United States centered around the place of employ-
ment’’. 
SEC. 7. PROHIBITION AND REPEAL OF CERTAIN RULES. 
(a) RULES REGARDING RECRUITMENT AND REFER-
RAL REQUIREMENT.—The Secretary of Agriculture may 
not make any rule for purposes of carrying out section 
218(b)(3) of the Immigration and Nationality Act that— 
(1) requires that an employer advertise an offer 
of employment— 
(A) on a particular date; or 
(B) in a particular publication; 
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