<font color=red>H-2B SPECIAL REPORT:</font color=red> What You Can Do Now

While the H-2B situation is certainly down to the wire, industry members can still make an difference, says Steve Pattie, one contractor who’s part of a contingent from Ohio that’s been working tirelessly to call, write and visit their Congress members in support of the H-2B returning-worker exemption.

“I wish everyone knew how simple it was to work with their representatives,” says Pattie, owner of Novelty, Ohio-based The Pattie Group.

Save Small Business, a coalition of H-2B advocates, offers the following steps must-do steps that anyone who may be affected should take ASAP.

1. Call Congress members soon as possible, as much as possible. Even if the senator or representative is already a co-sponsor, call them anyway. In the Washington offices, speak with chiefs of staff and legislative directors. In state/district offices, speak with state/district directors.

“Phone calls are registered – the more you make, the more impact you have,” Pattie says. “It’s like Americal Idol; it doesn’t matter how many times you call. They ask your ZIP code and write down the topic you’re interested in.” Also, a phone call weighs more than an e-mail, Pattie notes, because of the volume of e-mails received.

2. Talking points should include:

--You can't find enough workers for your company despite trying to recruit every available American you can find. Your needs are seasonal, and there are not enough Americans who want to work seasonal jobs.
--You have followed the law by participating in the H-2B program. You treat your workers fairly, pay them good wages and participate in the program only because you cannot find U.S. workers.
--Your foreign workers have followed the law and go home every year. They, like you, jump through hoops in order to return to work each year.
--Without the H-2B returning-worker exemption, you will not be able to get the workers you need to keep your business going. Congressional inaction let the exemption expire on September 30 – now Congress must act by passing the Save Our Small and Seasonal Businesses Act of 2007 as quickly as possible.
--Either Congress passes the Save Small Business bill, or my company may have to go out of business. Please let Speaker Pelosi, Majority Leader Hoyer and Minority Leader Boehner know how much this means to this Congressional district and to the state as a whole.

The Professional Landcare Network's "H-2B Toolkit" also offers a host of resources for formulating talking points and correspondence.

3. Encourage key U.S. employees, colleagues in the industry or at the local chamber of comerce, suppliers/distributors, customers and friends/family/neighbors to make calls as well.

4. Contact local newspapers and TV stations to get their attention on your increasingly desperate situation. Use the talking points above to describe the overall situation, and then discuss what the expiration of the H-2B returning worker exemption means specifically to your company and the Americans (employees, customers/clients, suppliers, distributors, families, etc.) who depend on you.

Sources: Save Small Business, Professional Landcare Network

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