NALP and its allies are diligently working to gain Congressional support for much needed H-2B relief. As part of our lobbying effort, the H-2B Workforce Coalition, which is co-chaired by NALP, has turned to Representative Billy Long (R-MO) who has agreed to circulate a letter to House DHS Appropriations Subcommittee Chairman Carter and Ranking Member Roybal-Allard. The letter requests that the fiscal 2017 DHS appropriations bill renew the H-2B returning worker exemption. The subcommittee is currently working to finalize the appropriations bill, and inclusion of the returning worker exemption is crucial to the interests of landscape professionals.
H-2B is a crucial tool that helps many NALP members maintain business. Seasonal landscape positions are often extremely difficult to fill due to their temporary nature and the arduous nature of the work. Because of this NALP has consistently championed the benefits of the seasonal guest worker program and is one of the leading voices in Washington DC working to ensure that the program continues and that administrative procedures are significantly streamlined to increase the appeal of the program.
Despite our efforts, we know that many landscape professionals are still experiencing uncertainty regarding the status of their seasonal workforce due to continued problems with the administration of the H-2B program. Onerous regulations combined with repeated delays by the federal agencies involved in the visa granting process have made this year’s application process difficult, irritating, burdensome, and extremely slow. In fact, for our members who depend non-immigrating temporary foreign workers to fill out the seasonal workforce, this may be the most frustrating year ever.
If you are stuck midstream at DOL, USCIS or at a consulate, once your staff, your lawyers or other processing agents have submitted all the required information and prodded for action via email, letters and telephone you should engage the offices of your Members of Congress (both in the U.S. House and Senate) for assistance.
Representatives and U.S Senators all spend a lot of their time and staff resources on what is known as “constituent services,” or assisting people who live in their state or congressional district in resolving problems with government agencies. If you are interested in contacting your members of Congress, but aren’t sure how and would like assistance, please contact Paul Mendelsohn, NALP Vice President of Government Relations.
