Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of extending the H- 2B returning worker program this year. The H-2B visa program was created to provide access to nonimmigrant temporary workers for seasonal and…
Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of extending the H- 2B returning worker program this year.
The H-2B visa program was created to provide access to nonimmigrant temporary workers for seasonal and peak load needs when no American workers can be found. Foreign workers offer small and seasonal businesses short-term help and return to their home country at the end of the season.
H-2B visas are capped at 66,000 visas per year. Even with 66,000 visas a year, it still does not meet the labor needs of seasonal businesses. To help fill these additional needs, Congress established the H-2B returning worker program in 2005. This program exempts returning workers who have received an H-2B visa in one of the three previous fiscal years from counting against the 66,000 cap. However, this program expired on September 30.
On September 27, 4 days before the season even started, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service had already received enough visa petitions to exceed the cap for H-2B visas for the first half of fiscal year 2008. The application process for the second half of fiscal year 2008 began on December 3, two days ago.
Without extending the returning worker program, it's expected that the visas will go quickly, leaving many businesses without the workers they need to fulfill their business needs. This demand highlights the immediate need for Congress to extend the H-2B returning worker program to help small and seasonal businesses fill their seasonal labor needs and keep full-time Americans and their businesses working.
These returning workers have provided relief to small businesses throughout the Nation, covering a broad spectrum of industries like landscapers, tourism, seafood processors and carnivals.
At this time, I will enter into the Record a letter from the H-2B Workforce Coalition in support of extending the H-2B returning worker program.
Workforce Coalition,
November 19, 2007.
Dear Representative: As representatives of tens of
thousands of seasonal employers throughout the country, we
urge you to support H.R. 1843, the ``Save Our Small and
Seasonal Business Act of 2007.''
This bipartisan bill would simply renew the highly
successful relief provision for the H-2B visa program that
was initially approved by the Senate by 94-6 in 2005. This
provision recognizes the reliability and trustworthiness of
past participants in the H-2B program by exempting those
temporary seasonal workers who have participated fiscal the
H-2B visa program and have completely followed the law during
the past three fiscal years from counting toward the
statutory cap.
The congressionally mandated 66,000 annual cap on the
number of workers allowed to participate in the program that
was established in 1990 does not reflect current economic
realities or meet the needs of businesses which are seasonal
or have peak load needs that rely on these workers.
Before employers can hire temporary seasonal workers under
the program, they must advertise their job openings, work
with local unemployment offices to identify potential
American workers and offer the positions to any qualified
domestic applicants. The jobs these guest workers fill do not
take jobs away from Americans. It is not until employers have
carried out this time consuming and expensive due diligence
in trying to hire American workers that they are allowed to
petition the federal government for a labor certification and
ultimately bring in temporary workers--their final option to
run their seasonal businesses.
In fiscal year 2004, the statutory cap was reached on March
9--only six months into the fiscal year and before many
summer employers had an opportunity to apply for seasonal
workers. As a result, many of these businesses had to cancel
events, operate at partial capacity, not open parts of their
businesses, or have their full-time staff work overtime to
the point of burnout.
Each subsequent year, the cap has been reached sooner as a
result of the increased need for seasonal workers and an
increasing labor shortage. The cap for the first half of
fiscal year 2008 was reached on September 27--3 days before
the fiscal year even began.
Without immediate action by Congress, widespread economic
consequences will severely impact diverse economic sectors
throughout the country including lodging, restaurants,
landscaping, clubs, amusement parks, ski resorts, food
processing, stone, travel and tourism, horse sports,
construction, entertainment, hospitality, recreation and many
other seasonal industries.
On behalf of thousands of small businesses and seasonal
employers throughout the country, we urge you to support H.R.
1843 and secure its immediate passage.
Sincerely,
National Organizations:
American Forest & Paper Association
American Horse Council
American Hotel & Lodging Association
American Immigration Lawyers Association
American Nursery and Landscape Association
American Rental Association
American Trucking Associations
Asian American Convenience Store Association
Asian American Hotel Owners Association
Associated Builders and Contractors
Associated General Contractors of America
Federation of Employers and Workers of America
International Association of Amusement Parks and
Attractions
Interlocking Concrete Pavement Institute
International Franchise Association
National Club Association
National Federation of Independent Business
National Restaurant Association
National Roofing Contractors Association
National Ski Areas Association
National Thoroughbred Racing Association
Outdoor Amusement Business Association
Professional Landcare Network
Tree Care Industry Association
U.S. Chamber of Commerce
State and Regional Organizations:
Alabama Forestry Association
Alabama Hospitality Association
Alabama Restaurant Association
Alaska Hotel & Lodging Association
Alaska Restaurant & Beverage Association
Arizona Hotel & Lodging Association
Arizona Landscape Contractors Association
Arkansas Forestry Association
Arkansas Hospitality Association
Associated Landscape Contractors of Colorado
Branson Lakes Area Lodging Association
California Hotel & Lodging Association
California Ski Industry Association
Chesapeake Bay Seafood Industries Association
Colorado Association of Lawn Care Professionals
Colorado Hotel & Lodging Association
Colorado Restaurant Association
Commercial Flower Growers of Wisconsin
Delaware Restaurant Association
East Hampton Chamber of Commerce
Florida Forestry Association
Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association
Georgia Hotel & Lodging Association
Georgia Restaurant Association
Gulf Oyster Industry Council
Hawaii Hotel & Lodging Association
Hilton Head Island-Bluffton Chamber of Commerce
Hospitality Association of South Carolina
Hotel and Lodging Association of Greater Kansas City
Idaho Nursery & Landscape Association
Indiana Hotel & Lodging Association
Illinois Hotel and Lodging Association
Illinois Landscape Contractors Association
Iowa Lodging Association
Iowa Restaurant Association
Kentucky Hotel & Lodging Association
Kentucky Nursery & Landscape Association
Kentucky Restaurant Association
Kentucky Turfgrass Council
Landscape Contractors Association MD-DC-VA
Lawns of Wisconsin Network
Long Island Hotel and Lodging Association
Long Island Convention and Visitors Bureau
Maine Campground Owners Association
Maine Innkeepers Association
Maine Merchants Association
Maine Restaurant Association
Maine Tourism Association
Maryland Hotel & Lodging Association
Massachusetts Lodging Association
Massachusetts Nursery & Landscape Association
Massachusetts Restaurant Association
Metro Atlanta Landscape & Turf Association
Michigan Green Industry Association
Michigan Hotel, Motel & Resort Association
Michigan Nursery & Landscape Association
Michigan Restaurant Association
Mid-America Green Industry Council
Minnesota Nursery & Landscape Association
Minnesota Restaurant Association
Missouri Restaurant Association
Montana Innkeepers Association
Montauk Chamber of Commerce
Myrtle Beach Area Hospitality Association
Nebraska Hotel & Motel Association
Nevada Hotel & Lodging Association
Nevada Landscape Association
New England Apple Council
New Hampshire Lodging & Restaurant Association
New Jersey Green Industry Council
New Jersey Hotel & Lodging Association
New Jersey Irrigation Association
New Jersey Landscape Contractors Association
New Jersey Nursery & Landscape Association
New York State Hospitality and Tourism Association
New York State Lawn Care Association
New York State Restaurant Association
New York State Turf & Landscape Association
New York Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association
North Carolina Nursery & Landscape Association
North Carolina Restaurant and Lodging Association
North Dakota Hospitality Association
Northern Colorado Stone Quarriers Association
Ohio Hotel & Lodging Association
Ohio Landscape Association
Ohio Nursery & Landscape Association
Ohio Restaurant Association
Oklahoma Greenhouse Growers Association
Oklahoma Hotel and Lodging Association
Oklahoma Nursery & Landscape Association
Oklahoma Restaurant Association
Oregon Landscape Contractors Association
Oregon Lodging Association
Oregon Restaurant Association
Pennsylvania Landscape & Nursery Association
Pennsylvania Restaurant Association
Pennsylvania Tourism & Lodging Association
Restaurant Association of Maryland
Rhode Island Hospitality & Tourism Association
South Carolina Forestry Association
South Texas Nursery Growers Association
Southern Innkeepers Association
Southampton Chamber of Commerce
Tennessee Hotel & Lodging Association
Tennessee Restaurant Association
Texas Forestry Association
Texas Horsemen's Partnership
Texas Hotel & Lodging Association
Texas Nursery & Landscape Association
Texas Restaurant Association
Utah Hotel & Lodging Association
Vermont Ski Areas Association
Virginia Green Industry Council
Virginia Hospitality and Travel Association
Virginia Nursery & Landscape Association
Washington Association of Landscape Professionals
Washington State Hotel & Lodging Association
Washington State Nursery & Landscape Association
West Virginia Hospitality & Travel Association
Wisconsin Green Industry Federation
Wisconsin Innkeepers Association
Wisconsin Landscape Contractors Association
Wisconsin Nursery Association
Wisconsin Restaurant Association
Wisconsin Sod Producers Association
Wyoming Lodging and Restaurant Association
Businesses:
360 Degree Realty, Illinois
4T Total Lawn, Kansas
A-1 Chipseal Co., Colorado
A & A Construction Company, Texas
A To Z Lawn and Landscaping, Ohio
A.E. Phillips & Son, Maryland
A & M Underground Irrigation Systems, South Dakota
A Cut Above Landscape Management, Georgia
A Perfect Landscape, Colorado
A.S.T. Landscape Services, Texas
A Yard & A Half Landscaping, Massachusetts
A Wave Inn, New York
AA Tex-Lawn, North Carolina
AAA Landscape, Arizona
Abernethy & Spencer Greenhouses, Virginia
Absolute Landscaping Inc., New Jersey
Acacia Digging & Transplanting Services, Texas
Academy Sports Turf, Colorado
Ace Landscaping Corporation, Washington
Ackerson Landscape, Missouri
Acres Group, Illinois
Adams Landscaping, New York
Adventure Bound Camping Resorts, New Hampshire
Affordable Lawn Sprinklers & Lighting, Virginia
Airporter Inn, California
Akala, Florida
Al Allentuck Landscaping, Maryland
Alder Springs Enterprises, Maryland
All Around Concrete Cutting, Louisiana
All Around Concrete Demolition, Louisiana
All Pro Landscaping of Tallahassee, Florida
Allin Companies, Pennsylvania
Allen's Landscaping and Maintenance, Virginia
Almeda Wholesale Nursery, Colorado
Alpine Meadows Ski Resort, California
Amberscapes, Texas
Amelia Island Plantation, Florida
American Beauty Landscaping, Ohio
American Landscape, Wisconsin
America's Best Inn, Vicksburg, Mississippi
America's Catch, Mississippi
Ameriworks Global, Louisiana
Anchor Retaining Wall Systems, Texas
Anewalt's Landscape Contracting, Pennsylvania
Angel Inn of Branson, Missouri
Ann Breyer's Cottages, New York
Aplin Masonry of Telluride, Colorado
Apgar Turf Farm, Delaware
Aqua Barrier Exterior Waterproofing, Tennessee
Aqua-Lawn, Connecticut
Arapahoe Acres Nursery & Landscaping, Colorado
Arapahoe Horticulture, Colorado
Architectural Paving Systems, Oklahoma
Aqualawn, Ohio
ArborLawn, Michigan
Architerra, Illinois
Armstrong Landscape & Design Group, Texas
Arrowhead Resort, Michigan
Arteka Companies, Minnesota
ArtisTree, Florida
Artistree Nursery & Landscape Design, Florida
Artistic Designs Lawn & Landscape, Kansas
Arvest Bank, Missouri
Aspen Corporation, West Virginia
Aspen Grove Landscape Company, Maryland
Aspen Lawn Care, Kansas
Aspen Skiing Company, Colorado
Atlantic Plants, New Jersey
Diamond Landscapes, Kentucky
Dinneen Landscaping, Massachusetts
DMB-Highlands Group LLC, California
Doctor's Inc., Kansas
Doctors ``At the Lake'' Inc, Kansas
Doctor's Lawn & Landscape, Kansas
Dom's Landscaping, New York
Don CeSar Beach Resort, Florida
Duke's Tree Landscape Management, New Jersey
Dominguez Racing Stables, New Mexico
Double A Contracting, Texas
Double JJ Concrete, Colorado
Dove Creek Quarries, Utah
Dowco Enterprises, Missouri
Driftwood, New York
Dune Management, New York
Duryea's Lobster Deck, New York
Dusty Lout Agri Service, Texas
Dwyer Designscapes. Kentucky
E.A. Quinn Landscape Contracting, Connecticut
E.L. Irrigation & Landscaping, Texas
Eagle Crest Nursery, Colorado
East Deck Motel, New York
East Hampton House, New York
East West Resorts, Colorado
Eastgate Sod, Ohio
Eastern Land Management, Connecticut
Eastern Shipbuilding Group, Florida
Eco-Cutters, Colorado
ECO Specialty Systems, Missouri
Econo Lodge, Fayetteville, North Carolina
Econo Lodge, Flagstaff, Arizona
Econo Lodge, West Springfield, Massachusetts
ECOSystems Landscape Service, Texas
Ed Castro Landscape, Georgia
Edmundson Inc, Colorado
El Jarrito Restaurants, Texas
The Elevation Hotel and Spa, Colorado
Elite Lawn & Landscape, Ohio
Elite Lawn & Landscape, Tennessee
Elite Professional Lawn & Landscaping, Texas
Ellis Cement Contracting, Ohio
Embassy Lawn & Landscaping Group, Missouri
Emerald Lawn Care & Landscaping, Kansas
The Enchantment Resort & Spa, Arizona
Enviroscapes, Ohio
Epic Landscape Production, Kansas
Equibrand Products Group, Texas
Estate Landscape & Irrigation, California
Evening Shade Lawn Care, New Jersey
Evergreen Gene's, Maryland
Evergreen of Johnson City, Tennessee
Executive Moving Systems, Virginia
F. Espinoza Landscaping, Illinois
Fairfax Golf, Oklahoma
The Fairmont Hotel, Texas
Fairway Landscape & Nursery, Texas
Falcon Executive Inn, Texas
Falfurrias Executive Inn, Texas
Farmside Landscape & Design, New Jersey
Felipe's Lawncare, Oklahoma
Fieldworks Landscape, Massachusetts
Florasearch, Florida
Florida Lawns, Florida
The Fockele Garden Company, Georgia
Focal Pointe Outdoor Solutions, Illinois
Fort Pond Lodge, New York
Frank's Used Tank & Heaters, Texas
Frank Sharum Landscape Design, Arkansas
Franz Witte Landscape Contracting, Idaho
Franzen Farms, Texas
Fred Adams Paving Co, North Carolina
Front Range Snow & Ice, Colorado
Frontier Landscaping, Washington
Fullmer's Landscaping, Ohio
G.W. Hall & Son, Maryland
Gachina Landscape Management, California
Gallegos Corporation, Colorado
Gangemi Landscaping, New Jersey
Garden Gate Landscaping, Maryland
The Garden Greenhouse & Nursery, New Jersey
The Garden of Gethsemane Nursery & Landscaping, Texas
Garden State Irrigation, New Jersey
Gardeners' Guild, California
Gardens Beautiful Garden Centers, Wisconsin
Garner's Northwest, Washington
Garrick-Santo Landscape, Massachusetts
Gateway National Golf Links, Illinois
Gatlinburg Sky Lift, Tennessee
GDK Leasing Inc., Florida
Gear Garden Center, Ohio
Geissler Tree Farms, Pennsylvania
GEL Inc, Utah
Genesis Lawn & Landscape Management, Arkansas
Gentle Giant Moving Co., Massachusetts
Giambrocco Greenhouses, Colorado
Ginkgo Landscape Group, Illinois
GLV Construction, New York
The Good Earth Construction, Arkansas
Good Labor, Alabama
Goodwin Proturf, Kansas
Gosman's Culloden House, New York
Gosman's Restaurant, New York
Gothic Grounds Management, California
GPS Enterprises, Texas
Graham & Rollins, Virginia
Grand Hotel, Michigan
The Grand Lodge Crested Butte, Colorado
Grand Marais Hotel Company, Minnesota
Grand Oaks Hotel, Missouri
Grand Teton Lodge Company, Wyoming
Grand Traverse Resort and Spa, Michigan
GrandScapes, Michigan
Grandscapes Landscape & Design, New Jersey
Lighthouse Inn, Massachusetts
Lilac Tree Hotel & Spa, Michigan
Lindy's Seafood Inc., Maryland
Lindy's Taxi, New York
Lipinski Landscape & Irrigation, New Jersey
Lipinski Snow Services, New Jersey
The Little Nell, Colorado
Live Oak Landscape Contractors, New Jersey
Living Water Landscaping & Irrigation, New Mexico
LMC, Texas
LMI Landscapes, Colorado
LMI Landscapes, Florida
LMI Landscapes, Texas
LMS Guam, Guam
The Lodge at Mountaineer Square, Colorado
The Lodge of Four Seasons, Missouri
Loews Ventana Canyon Resort, Arizona
Longhorn Landscape Lighting & Holiday Decor, Texas
Lonnett Lawn & Landscape Maintenance Service, Pennsylvania
Loon Mountain, New Hampshire
Loyet Landscape Maintenance, Missouri
LSW Show Horses, Vermont
LT Rental Services, New York
Luciano & Son, Massachusetts
Lueders Environmental, Massachusetts
Lynch Landscaping, Maine
Lyons Sandstone, Colorado
M. Atkins Inc, Colorado
M & M Mowing, Colorado
Madison Planting & Design Group, Mississippi
Magic Gardens Landscape Contractors, New Jersey
Magma Industrial Co, Georgia
Magnolia Landscaping, New Jersey
Maid to Clean, Michigan
Main Street Inn & Suites, Michigan
Mainscape, North Carolina
Mandoki Hospitality Group, Alabama
Mango Design, Utah
Mark Kuppe & Associates, Michigan
Mariani Landscape, Illinois
Marriott International, Inc.
Martin Associates, Illinois
Martin Property Maintenance, Texas
Marvin Windows and Doors, Minnesota
Massengale Grounds Management, Louisiana
Mauer Landscapes, Ohio
McCarthy's Landscaping & Irrigation, Massachusetts
McFall & Berry Landscape Mgt, Maryland
MCL, LLC, Virginia
McGinty Bros., Inc. Lawn & Tree Care, Illinois
McKenna Construction, New York
Metco Landscape, Colorado
Meticulous Landscaping, New Jersey
Metivier Inn, Michigan
Michael Bellantoni, Inc., New York
Michigan Peddler, Michigan
Michigan Vacation Rentals, Michigan
Mickey's Carting, New York
Microtel Inn & Suites, Dixon, California
Midwest Landscapes, Minnesota
Milberger's Landscaping, Texas
Mike Ward Landscaping, Ohio
Milieu Design, Illinois
Miller Landscape, Georgia
Mission Point Resort, Michigan
Mohonk Mountain House, New York
Molenaar Greenhouse, Pennsylvania
Montauk Bake Shoppe, New York
Montauk Bike Shop, New York
Montauk Carriage House, New York
Montauk Clothing Co., New York
Montauk IGA, New York
Montauk Inlet Seafood, New York
Montauk Lighthouse Laundromat, New York
Montauk Manor, New York
Montauk Motel, New York
Montauk Soundview, New York
Montauk Sweatshirt Co., New York
Montauk Taxi, New York
Montauk Yacht Club, New York
Moon Nurseries of Maryland
Moon Site Management, Pennsylvania
Moore Landscapes, Illinois
Morin's Landscaping & Lawn Maintenance, New Hampshire
Morin's Landscaping, New Hampshire
Morton's Landscape Development Company, Ohio
Mortellaro's Nursery, Texas
Motivatit Seafoods, Louisiana
Mount Washington Resort, New Hampshire
Moyer Home Turf Advantage, Pennsylvania
MPS LLC, Louisiana
MTK Cafe, New York
Murdick's Fudge, Michigan
Myer Hotels, Missouri
Myers Family Enterprises, North Carolina
Naples Beach Hotel & Golf Club, Florida
National Filter Service, Virginia
Native Land Design, Texas
Natorp's, Ohio
Nature View Landscape, New Jersey
Nature Works Landscapes, Massachusetts
Naturescape, Ohio
Naylor Landscape Management, Michigan
NB Enterprises, Texas
NCN, Inc, Washington
Neave Landscaping, New York
NETAJI, LLC, Georgia
New Castle Hotels & Resorts
Newcon Inc, North Carolina
Newcrest Management, Texas
The Newport Harbor Hotel & Marina, Rhode Island
Newport Village Homeowners Association, Oklahoma
Newton Construction, Texas
This letter is signed by over 1,300 organizations and small businesses from every State in the union supporting this H-2B returning worker program.
H-2B workers offer short-term help. They cannot and do not stay in the United States. More importantly, the H-2B program contains strong provisions to ensure American workers have the first right to work.
Without an extension of the returning worker program, small and seasonal businesses will face significant labor shortages this year. If small businesses lose their ability to hire seasonal, nonimmigrant labor, full-time American jobs are at stake and may be lost.
