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The following article, written by VP of Government Relations, Paul Mendelsohn, ran in Landscape & Irrigation Magazine’s October 2016 issue. Members of the landscape industry are faced with a new threat from an unexpected direction in the form of a model standard for the sustainable construction of commercial buildings developed by the American Society of […]
As the result of a recent request from NALP, the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services department (USCIS) issued the following recommendations for landscape professionals and other employers regarding requests for returning workers for 2017. H-2B Employers Should Continue to Identify āReturning Workersā in Petitions for FY 2017. USCIS urges prospective H-2B employers seeking to […]
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 […]
Last week, Minnesota Governor Mark Dayton announced his signing of an executive order placing some restrictions on neonicotinoid (neonics) use.Ā The governorās action makes Minnesota the most stringent state in the nation when it comes to neonic use. The executive order directs the Department of Agriculture to: ā¢ Require a “verification of need” prior to the […]
At this point in the year, many landscaping businesses need to focus on preparing and submitting prevailing wage determinations which will ultimately be used to support the processing of H-2B applications for the upcoming 2017 Spring season.Ā The Department of Labor recently conducted a public webinar on filing tips that will help to ensure timely […]
In mid-July, Congressman Kurt Schrader (OR-5), Congressman Jim Cooper (TN-5), Congressman Henry Cuellar (TX-28) and Congressman Collin Peterson (MN-7) introduced theĀ Overtime Reform and Enhancement Act, legislation that will initiate a three-year phase-in of the Department of Laborās new overtime rule. The phase-in is designed to mitigate the impact of the new rule, and provide additional […]
Ā NALP sponsored an interactive industry exhibit at this yearās Legislative Day for members of Congress and their staff. Several dozen congressional staffers attended the event held in the Rayburn House Office Building visiting exhibits that offered instruction on the importance of healthy lawns and landscapes, information on the industryās commitment to pollinators and sustainable practices, […]
It is rewarding to celebrate when a supportive bill finally gets passed in Congress, or when negative laws or regulations get removed.Ā But usually the road that leads there is long, and often involves years of work and many miles walked in the halls of Congress and many emails sent. Legislative Day on the Hill […]
Two communities on opposite sides of the country are still trying to determine what to do about leaf blowers. In Newton (MA) the City Council has decided that they will not take action on proposed leaf blower restrictions until the fall. Council members have already been debating the ordinance for more than a year and […]
As a result of consistent pressure by landscape professionals and other H-2B stakeholders, last week the House Appropriations Committee adopted an amendment to extend the returning worker exemption (RWE) to the H-2B legal immigrant guest worker program for fiscal year 2017. The groundswell of grassroots support exhibited by H-2B supporters was needed to offset the […]
