House to vote on compromise immigration bill

FAIRFAX, Virginia – The House of Representatives may vote on June 27 on a compromise immigration bill (H.R.6136 - Border Security and Immigration Reform Act of 2018) that includes a permanent returning worker exemption and mandates that employers use E-Verify to confirm the work eligibility of new employees.

The bill now provides that any guestworker counted against the H-2B cap during either of the prior two fiscal years is not counted against the cap for the current fiscal year. The H-2B guestworker program is used by American employers to hire foreign workers for temporary and seasonal work, such as forestry, seafood processing, and other industries.

The amended version of the bill offered by this morning by House Judiciary Committee Chairman Bob Goodlatte (R-Va.), Congressman Carlos Curbelo (R-Fla.), House Homeland Security Committee Chairman Michael McCaul (R-Texas), and Congressman Jeff Denham (R-Calif.) would also create new agricultural temporary worker program, provide nearly $25 billion for a border wall, provide continued legal status for recipients of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, among other things.

The National Association of Landscape Professionals is urging everyone in the industry to call or email their representatives today and ask them to vote yes on the bill. The House may scrap plans to vote on the bill if it cannot garner the support needed for passage. Overwhelming support from the industry could help us achieve a vote on permanent H-2B cap relief.

“We have been working hard for a permanent H-2B Returning Worker Exemption to bring back the seasonal workers that our members rely on,” said Missy Henriksen, NALP’s Vice President of Public Affairs. “This is exactly the bill we need, but we need people to act now to show Congress how important this is to American businesses.”

People can reach their Representative through the Capitol Switchboard at 202-225-3121. Once connected to the office, ask to speak to the staff person who handles immigration issues.

You can also find contact information for legislators through a tool in NALP’s Legislative Action Center or through the House of Representatives website here.