With Congress down to the wire before the holiday recess on a number of vital pieces of legislation, employers who use the H-2B program are hoping the extension of the returning-worker exemption doesn’t get lost in the mix.
Congressional Democrats are crafting an omnibus spending bill that will wrap 11 as-yet unapproved appropriations bills into one massive bill with the hope it will avert the president's veto. This bill is likely the last opportunity this year for the fiscal year 2008 H-2B fix, according to Hank Lavery, founder of Save Small Business, a network of small and seasonal business owners who support the seasonal, non-immigrant visa program.
At this juncture, it’s uncertain whether the H-2B provision would make it through an omnibus bill's amendment-cutting process, especially considering opposition from the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, says Tom Delaney, director of government affairs for the Professional Landcare Network (PLANET). Majority of the Hispanic Caucus members oppose the extension of the returning-worker exemption on the basis of wanting to only deal with the H-2B issue as part of comprehensive immigration reform (CIR). “While PLANET supports CIR efforts, it is clear that it will be some time before Congress again addresses this issue – and that will be too late,” Delaney said in a memo to members today. “It is critical to the green industry businesses that the H-2B returning-worker exemption be extended immediately.”
He urges H-2B supporters to call each member of the Hispanic Caucus as soon as possible and emphasize the importance of extending the H-2B returning-worker exemption. Lavery encourages supporters to contact their states' two senators and ask them to put pressure on Senator Harry Reid (D-Nev.), the Senate Majority Leader. “He decides whether H-2B can be included in the omnibus bill,” Lavery said in a statement Tuesday on the Save Small Business Web site. “Senator Reid must hear from other senators that their constituents are going nuts on the H-2B issue!” Lavery said.
Contact legislators through the U.S. Capitol switchboard at 202/224-3121 or through PLANET’s Web site at http://www.landcarenetwork.org/cms/legislation/h2b.html.