H-2B update: Congress is back in Washington Email
Tuesday, November 15, 2016 02:00 PM
H-2B action needed

Help #SaveH-2B!

From the H-2B Workforce Coalition:

Congress returns to Washington today. After organizing for next Congress, the first order of business will be addressing federal government spending for the remainder of the fiscal year (December 9, 2016-September 30, 2017). While it is not yet clear if Congress will finish all of the spending bills or pass another short-term, IS IT ESSENTIAL THAT YOU CALL AND EMAIL YOUR ELECTED OFFICIALS AND ASK THEM TO ADDRESS THE H-2B RETURNING WORKER EXEMPTION AND H-2B REGULATORY RELIEF IN ANY UPCOMING APPROPRIATIONS BILL.

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.

Here’s how you can help:
Most importantly, call your Senators and Representative. Find your officials here. 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. Ask them to urge their party leadership to include an H-2B returning worker exemption and H-2B regulatory relief in a continuing resolution and/or final spending bills for the Departments of Homeland Security and Labor. 

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. Ask them to urge their party leadership to include an H-2B returning worker exemption and H-2B regulatory relief in a continuing resolution and/or final spending bills for the Departments of Homeland Security and Labor.

Tweet at your Senators and Representative using #SaveH2B. You can find their twitter address at: 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.

The best tweets are those that you personalize to your member of Congress and that are specific to your state. For example:

  • @SenateMajLdr‪ Seasonal businesses need the H-2B returning worker exemption renewed now. #SaveH2B
  • ‪@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

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