Please Help #SaveH2B 7-14-17 Email
Friday, July 14, 2017 02:00 AM

 

H-2B updateCurrent status
An interim final rule to increase the number of H-2B visas is reportedly being reviewed by the Office of Management and Budget.  We are hopeful that this regulation will be issued shortly.
In late June, a Department of Homeland Security (DHS) spokesperson announced that Secretary John Kelly would soon expand the number of H-2B visas available this fiscal year, as is authorized under the fiscal 2017 Consolidated Appropriations Act. DHS spokesperson David Lapan qualified the statement, however, by stating that Secretary Kelly would make a small number of visas available in late July to a limited number of businesses that would be "severely harmed" without an immediate influx of H-2B workers.
The H-2B Workforce Coalition continues to urge the Administration to immediately open up H-2B visa processing. We also continue to fight for permanent H-2B relief.
Please contact Congress
Please reach out to your Senators and Representative and urge them to do the following:
  • Contact the Administration and demand that DHS immediately resume H-2B processing for fiscal year 2017.
  • Encourage their party leaders to includeH-2B cap relief in the Department of Homeland Security appropriations legislation or other appropriate legislation for fiscal year 2018.
  • Support permanent H-2B relief.  Ask your Senators to cosponsor S. 792, the Save Our Small And Seasonal Businesses Act Of 2017. Ask your Representative to cosponsor H.R. 2004, the Strengthen Employment And Seasonal Opportunities Now (SEASON) Act.
Continue to Engage on Social Media 
Please also tweet at DHS and DOL and the White House using #saveH2B.  Please tweet details about the economic losses to the company and your American workers.  Some sample tweets are below, but we encourage you to personalize them with specific information about your business.
NALP Twitter graphics
In preparation for the National Association of Landscape Professionals Legislative Day on Capitol Hill on Tuesday, the association prepared graphics that can be tweeted at your Senators, Representative and the Administration. Follow @COGreenNOW on Twitter to find these graphics that you can save for your own use or simply retweet.
ALCC will join NALP, H-2B providers and H-2B users on Capitol Hill on Tuesday. Please add your voice to those in Washington by calling your lawmakers and engaging on social media on July 18.