Polling

Child farmworkers

Child farmworkers are exempted from most federal labor laws that regulate the employment of children in nearly all other industries. Most 12-year-olds are not permitted to work more than 3 hours on a school day but children who work on farms can work unlimited hours before and after school. It is estimated that 400,000 to 500,000 minors are now working for a living in our agriculture industry. Children often work "off the books," making official counts difficult. Many are members of families that need help providing for them.

More children are injured and killed while working on farms than any other job. In 2024 about 100,000 children were injured and more than 100 died while working with dangerous farm tools and heavy equipment. Some of these children work from 10 to 12 hours in sweltering heat, with little water or no access to restrooms. Some are also exposed to large doses of pesticides which may cause cancer or damage their reproductive and nervous systems. Nearly half of these children are never able to finish high school. Child advocates claim this exploitation will continue as long as these conditions are legal.

Pending Legislation: H.R.6066 - Children’s Act for Responsible Employment and Farm Safety (CARE) Act of 2025
Sponsor: Rep. Raul Ruiz (CA)
Status: House Committee on Education and Workforce
Chair: Rep. Tim Walberg (MI)

I oppose reforming current child farmworker policy and wish to donate resources to the campaign committee of Speaker Mike Johnson (LA).
I support strengthening child labor laws under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), aiming to protect children working in agriculture and other hazardous environments, ensuring safer conditions and better enforcement of child labor standards by:

1.) Prohibiting the employment of children under the age of 14 in most agricultural roles.

2.) Implementing stricter limitations for minors aged 14 to 17, particularly prohibiting them from performing tasks deemed hazardous.

3.) Bans anyone under the age of 18 from handling pesticides, addressing health risks associated with chemical exposure.

4.) Raising fines to between $500 and $15,000 for standard child labor violations.

5.) Introducing potential imprisonment of up to five years for willful or repeated violations that cause serious harm to child workers.

6.) Mandating that employers report any serious injury, illness, or death of a minor to the Department of Labor within five days.

And wish to donate resources to the campaign committee of Rep. Tim Walberg (MI) and/or to an advocate group currently working with this issue.

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Poll Opening Date

January 5, 2026

Poll Closing Date

January 11, 2026