Help #SaveH-2B!
During the final weekend before the Presidential and Congressional elections, many Representatives and Senators are out in their communities doing campaign events. If you have an opportunity to attend an event, we encourage you to go and remind your elected officials that they must address the H-2B program in upcoming appropriations bills. Lawmakers return to Washington, DC on November 14, but staff work on appropriations bills is going on right now.

The H-2B returning worker exemption expired on October 1 and the H-2B regulatory provisions that prevent DOL from enforcing corresponding employment and the ¾ guarantee, allow for the use of wage surveys, limit some DOL enforcement authority, provide for a 10-month season, and allow staggered crossing for seafood workers will expire on December 9 unless Congress renews them. PLEASE URGE YOUR LAWMAKERS TO INCLUDE AN H-2B RETURNING WORKER EXEMPTION AND H-2B REGULATORY RELIEF IN FINAL SPENDING BILLS FOR THE DEPARTMENTS OF HOMELAND SECURITY, LABOR OR ANY OTHER RELEVANT FISCAL 2017 SPENDING MEASURE.

Here’s how you can help:
Attend a Campaign Event. Strike up a conversation with your lawmakers or another Congressional or Senate candidate at a campaign event and stress the importance of the H-2B program to your business and the community. Urge them to include an H-2B returning worker exemption and H-2B regulatory relief in final spending bills for the departments of Homeland Security, Labor or any other relevant fiscal 2017 spending measure.

Call your Senators and Representative. If you do not know their direct numbers, you can reach them through the Capitol Switchboard at (202) 225-3121. Once connected to the office, ask to speak to the person who handles H-2B issues and tell him or her how important the H-2B program is to you. Urge them to include an H-2B returning worker exemption and H-2B regulatory relief in final spending bills for the departments of Homeland Security, Labor or any other relevant fiscal 2017 spending measure.

Email your Senators and Representative. In your email, explain the importance of the H-2B program to your business, your American workers and the local economy. Urge them to include an H-2B returning worker exemption and H-2B regulatory relief in final spending bills for the departments of Homeland Security, Labor or any other relevant fiscal 2017 spending measure.

Tweet at your Senators and Representative using #SaveH2B. You can find their twitter address at https://twitter.com/verified/lists/us-congress/members. Some sample tweets are below. Create peer pressure. Encourage your employees, co-workers, suppliers, and other seasonal businesses to reach out to their elected officials.

Sample Tweets
The best tweets are those that you personalize to your member of Congress and that are specific to your state. 

• ‪@HouseAppropsGOP Help #saveH2B. Renew the H-2B returning worker exemption now!
• @AppropsDems Help #saveH2B. Renew the H-2B returning worker exemption now!
• @SenateApprops Help #saveH2B. Renew the H-2B returning worker exemption and H-2B regulatory relief now!

Additional Sample Tweets to be directed at your Senators and Representative:

• It is essential that Congress renew the H-2B returning worker exemption and H-2B regulatory relief now! #saveH2B
• 82% of H-2B visa workers are returning workers – proof that they are treated well. #saveH2B
• The H-2B program relies on workers who come to the U.S. for seasonal work, then go home. #saveH2B
• Every H-2B worker creates and sustains 4.64 American jobs. Renew the H-2B returning worker exemption now! #saveH2B
• #saveH2B and save American Jobs! Renew the H-2B returning worker exemption and H-2B regulatory relief now!
• H-2B program = more American jobs. Renew the H-2B returning worker exemption and H-2B regulatory relief now. #saveH2B
• H-2B workers support American jobs. Renew the H-2B returning worker exemption and H-2B regulatory relief now and #saveH2B