Great news! Thanks for all your help in pushing this out to our representatives. 

The H-2B “may” to “shall” amendment just passed by a voice vote in the DHS Appropriations Markup.

We are grateful to Reps. Harris (R-MD), Pingree (D-ME), Moolenaar (R-MI), Cuellar (D-TX), Joyce (R-OH) and Ruppersberger (D-MD) for their leadership in sponsoring the amendment. We thank the congress members who spoke in support of the amendment. Please make sure to thank them if you have a close relationship with their offices.

The amendment states:

SEC. 406. Notwithstanding the numerical limitation set forth in section 214(g)(1)(B) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1184(g)(1)(B)), the Secretary of Homeland Security, after consultation with the Secretary of Labor, and upon determining that the needs of American businesses cannot be satisfied during fiscal year 2025 with United States workers who are willing, qualified, and able to perform temporary nonagricultural labor x , shall increase the total number of visas available to qualifying aliens under section 101(a)(15)(H)(ii)(b) of such Act (8 U.S.C. 1101(a)(15)(H)(ii)(b)) in such fiscal year above such limitation by the highest number of H–2B nonimmigrants who participated in the H–2B returning worker program in any fiscal year in which returning workers were exempt from such numerical limitation.

Congressman Harris introduced the amendment and the following folks spoke in support of the amendment:

Amodei

Underwood

Kaptur

Joyce

Bishop

Pingree

Congressman Pocan spoke against the amendment and stated some concerns with the program.

The amendment was passed by a voice vote. Thank you all for your grassroots efforts.