House Bill Introduced to Freeze Adverse Effect Wage Rate

On September 26, 2025, Representative John Moolenaar, along with co-sponsors including Ms. Tenney, Mr. Thompson of Pennsylvania, Ms. Stefanik, Mr. Fulcher, Mr. Tony Gonzales of Texas, Mr. Guest, Mr. Norman, Mr. Aderholt, and Mr. Huizenga, introduced H.R. 5596 in the House of Representatives. This legislation, referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, is titled the “Freeze AEWR and Restore Monetary Sense Act” or the “FARMS Act.”

The bill proposes to allow the Secretary of Labor to maintain the current adverse effect wage rate (AEWR) for a period of two years if it is determined that there is no valid method to calculate a new rate. The AEWR is a wage rate that must be paid to nonimmigrant workers under certain visa categories, specifically those admitted under section 101(a)(15)(H)(ii)(a) of the Immigration and Nationality Act.

This temporary measure aims to provide stability in wage rates for these workers, starting from the date of the bill’s enactment and lasting for two years thereafter. The bill seeks to address potential issues in the calculation methodology of the AEWR, ensuring that wage rates remain consistent in the absence of a reliable calculation method.