The H-2B Workforce Coalition has issued a call-to-action to support the H-2B visa program:

We need your help to make sure that the H-2B returning worker exemption is included in a temporary spending measure that Congress is currently drafting.

Congress is currently drafting a short-term spending bill, or continuing resolution, to keep the government funded for the next couple of months. Prior to the August recess, the House Appropriations Committee passed its version of the fiscal 2017 Department of Homeland Appropriations bill, which would renew the H-2B returning worker exemption for another year.  The Senate Appropriations Committee passed its version of the Department of Labor Appropriations bill that would extend the H-2B regulatory relief for another year and provide additional resources for H-2B processing.

While Congress is not expected to complete work on these appropriations bills before the start of the fiscal year on October 1, it is expected to pass a stop-gap spending measure called a continuing resolution that will keep the federal government running beyond September 30, the date that the current H-2B returning worker exemption is set to expire.  PLEASE CONTACT YOUR ELECTED OFFICIALS THIS WEEK AND LET THEM KNOW THAT IT IS ESSENTIAL THAT THE CONTINUING RESOLUTION EXTEND THE EXISTING H-2B RETURNING WORKER EXEMPTION BEYOND SEPTEMBER 30.

Here’s how you can help:

• Call Senators Bennet and Gardner and your personal House 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. Ask them to work with their party leadership to extend the H-2B returning worker exemption in the continuing resolution that is being drafted.
• Email the CO Senators and your House Representative. Explain the importance of the H-2B program to your business, your American workers and the local economy. Ask your Senators and Representatives to work with their party leadership to extend the H-2B returning worker exemption in the continuing resolution that is being drafted.
• 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 yourstate. Find Colorado legislators at twitter.com/COGreenNOW/lists/legislators/members. You can also follow @COGreenNOW and retweet ALCC's #saveH-2B tweets.

• ‪@SenCoryGardner Help Colorado landscape companies. #saveH2B & renew the H-2B returning worker exemption this month.
• @HouseAppropsGOP Help #saveH2B. Renew the H-2B returning worker exemption this month!
• @AppropsDems Help #saveH2B. Renew the H-2B returning worker exemption this month!
• @SenateApprops Help #saveH2B.  Renew the H-2B returning worker exemption this month!

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

• Welcome back to Washington. It is essential that Congress renew the H-2B returning worker exemption this month! #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 now!
• H-2B program = more American jobs. Renew the H-2B returning worker exemption now. #saveH2B
• H-2B workers support American jobs. Renew the H-2B returning worker exemption now and #saveH2B

Previously on the LAB:

H-2B Workforce Coalition Applauds Committee Passage of Labor-HHS Bill
Senator Bennet supports employers that use H-2B
VIDEO: H-2B in two minutes

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