ACTION ALERT from Forest Resources Association (FRA), 6/2/23

H-2B Visas—Urge your Representative to Support DHS Appropriations Bill

On May 18, the House Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Appropriations Subcommittee passed a bill that included a meaningful fix to the H-2B visa cap. The provision in the DHS spending bill includes a permanent Returning Worker Exemption (RWE) for H-2B workers. Under this provision, H-2B workers who received a visa in one of the previous three years would be exempt from the cap. FRA expects the DHS spending bill to be marked up by the full Appropriations Committee as early as next week. Representatives Bergman (R-MI) and Keating (D-MA) are circulating a letter that supports the RWE language for members’ signatures. The letter will be sent to leaders of the appropriations committee.

FRA encourages our members to reach out to your Representative and urge them to sign the Bergman/Keating letter to appropriations. You can do this by calling or emailing your Representative’s office and asking them to sign the letter being circulated by Representatives Berman and Keating. You can reach your Representative through the Capitol Switchboard at 202-224-3121. Once connected, ask to speak to the staff person who handles immigration issues, and ask for the Representative to sign the Bergman-Keating letter in support of the H-2B Returning Worker Exemption. Representatives can sign the letter by contacting Reps. Bergman or Keating directly or using this LINK. Please note that that link will not work for non-Hill staff. The deadline for signatures is June 12.