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H-2B ALERTContinue calls to senators and U.S. representative about passing H-2B legislation

Your calls and letters to Congress and positive stories in the media have greatly raised the awareness about the significant economic loses that are resulting from Congress’ failure to renew the H-2B returning worker exemption. Unfortunately, Congress has yet to pass an extension of the H-2B returning worker exemption.

While an extension of the returning worker exemption should be straightforward and noncontroversial, opposition from labor unions and the Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC) has blocked our efforts to date. In exchange for a very short-term extension of the returning worker exemption, labor unions are demanding that Congress make permanent changes to the H-2B program, including requiring employers to pay significantly higher wages and fees, and adding several more bureaucratic steps to the H-2B application process. The CHC continues to oppose any efforts to pass the H-2B returning worker exemption separate from broader immigration reforms.

Last week, the House Judiciary Subcommittee on Immigration, Citizenship, Refugees, Border Security and International Law held a hearing on the H-2B program that included members of Congress and stakeholders who both support and oppose it. The hearing was very effective in providing a platform for the H-2B user community to plead its case for immediate extension of this exemption. PLANET submitted written comments and testimonials from our members that were incorporated into the official hearing record. However, it also allowed anti-H-2B groups to make their case.

Because of resistance from these groups, it has been difficult to get Congress to take up the “Save Our Small and Seasonal Businesses Act of 2007” (S. 988, H.R. 1843), introduced by Sen. Mikulski (D-Md.), Rep. Stupak (D-Mich.), and a host of others as a stand-alone measure. 

It is important that you call and continue to call your member of Congress and senators through the Capitol Switchboard at (202) 225-3121. Ask them to support an immediate extension of the H-2B returning worker exemption as part of the supplemental appropriations bill or any other measure moving through Congress. If they have already cosponsored the legislation, please say thank you, but ask them to contact their leadership to get it moving. If they are not currently a cosponsor, ask them to cosponsor the bill. A list of current cosponsors is included below. Congress must act now to save landscape contractors and other seasonal employers from further economic losses this year and to prevent this crisis in future years.

If you have any questions, contact Tom Delaney, PLANET’s director of government affairs, at (800) 395-2522 or direct at (770) 925-7113.

Current Senate Cosponsors of S.988

Sen Akaka, Daniel K. [HI] Sen Allard, Wayne [CO] Sen Bennett, Robert F. [UT] Sen Bond, Christopher S. [MO] Sen Brown, Sherrod [OH] Sen Burr, Richard [NC] Sen Carper, Thomas R. [DE] Sen Cochran, Thad [MS] Sen Collins, Susan M. [ME] Sen DeMint, Jim [SC] Sen Enzi, Michael B. [WY] Sen Gregg, Judd [NH] Sen Inouye, Daniel K. [HI] Sen Kennedy, Edward M. [MA] Sen Klobuchar, Amy [MN] Sen Lautenberg, Frank R. [NJ] Sen Levin, Carl [MI] Sen Salazar, Ken [CO] Sen Snowe, Olympia J. [ME] Sen Stevens, Ted [AK] Sen Thomas, Craig [WY] Sen Voinovich, George V. [OH] Sen Whitehouse, Sheldon [RI]

Sen Alexander, Lamar [TN] Sen Barrasso, John [WY] Sen Biden, Joseph R., Jr. [DE] Sen Boxer, Barbara [CA] Sen Brownback, Sam [KS] Sen Cardin, Benjamin L. [MD] Sen Coburn, Tom [OK] Sen Coleman, Norm [MN] Sen Craig, Larry E. [ID] Sen Dole, Elizabeth [NC] Sen Graham, Lindsey [SC] Sen Hatch, Orrin G. [UT] Sen Johnson, Tim [SD] Sen Kerry, John F. [MA] Sen Landrieu, Mary L. [LA] Sen Leahy, Patrick J. [VT] Sen Lieberman, Joseph I. [CT] Sen Schumer, Charles E. [NY] Sen Specter, Arlen [PA] Sen Sununu, John E. [NH] Sen Thune, John [SD] Sen Warner, John [VA]

Current House Cosponsors of HR 1843

Rep Abercrombie, Neil [HI-1] Rep Allen, Thomas H. [ME-1] Rep Baker, Richard H. [LA-6] Rep Bartlett, Roscoe G. [MD-6] Rep Berkley, Shelley [NV-1] Rep Bishop, Timothy H. [NY-1] Rep Blunt, Roy [MO-7] Rep Bordallo, Madeleine Z. [GU] Rep Boyd, Allen [FL-2] Rep Butterfield, G. K. [NC-1] Rep Cantor, Eric [VA-7] Rep Carnahan, Russ [MO-3] Rep Castle, Michael N. [DE] Rep Cleaver, Emanuel [MO-5] Rep Conaway, K. Michael [TX-11] Rep Courtney, Joe [CT-2] Rep Cubin, Barbara [WY] Rep Davis, Danny K. [IL-7 Rep Davis, Tom [VA-11] Rep DeGette, Diana [CO-1] Rep DeLauro, Rosa L. [CT-3] Rep Diaz-Balart, Lincoln [FL-21] Rep Doyle, Michael F. [PA-14] Rep Ehlers, Vernon J. [MI-3] Rep English, Phil [PA-3] Rep Feeney, Tom [FL-24] Rep Fortuno, Luis G. [PR] Rep Frank, Barney [MA-4] Rep Gerlach, Jim [PA-6] Rep Hall, Ralph M. [TX-4] Rep Hinchey, Maurice D. [NY-22] Rep Hodes, Paul W. [NH-2] Rep Hoyer, Steny H. [MD-5] Rep Jackson, Jesse L., Jr. [IL-2] Rep Johnson, Eddie Bernice [TX-30] Rep Kennedy, Patrick J. [RI-1] Rep Kind, Ron [WI-3] Rep Kline, John [MN-2] Rep LaHood, Ray [IL-18] Rep Langevin, James R. [RI-2] Rep Larson, John B. [CT-1] Rep Levin, Sander M. [MI-12] Rep Lowey, Nita M. [NY-18] Rep Manzullo, Donald A. [IL-16] Rep McCotter, Thaddeus G. [MI-11] Rep McHugh, John M. [NY-23] - Rep Michaud, Michael H. [ME-2] Rep Miller, Candice S. [MI-10] Rep Moran, James P. [VA-8] Rep Murphy, Christopher S. [CT-5] Rep Murtha, John P. [PA-12] Rep Oberstar, James L. [MN-8] Rep Ortiz, Solomon P. [TX-27] Rep Pascrell, Bill, Jr. [NJ-8] Rep Perlmutter, Ed [CO-7] Rep Pickering, Charles W. "Chip" [MS-3] Rep Platts, Todd Russell [PA-19] Rep Price, David E. [NC-4] Rep Renzi, Rick [AZ-1] Rep Rodriguez, Ciro D. [TX-23] Rep Rothman, Steven R. [NJ-9] Rep Ryan, Paul [WI-1] Rep Sali, Bill [ID-1] Rep Sarbanes, John P. [MD-3] Rep Sessions, Pete [TX-32] Rep Shadegg, John B. [AZ-3] Rep Simpson, Michael K. [ID-2] Rep Souder, Mark E. [IN-3] Rep Tiahrt, Todd [KS-4] Rep Udall, Mark [CO-2] Rep Walberg, Timothy [MI-7] Rep Wamp, Zach [TN-3] Rep Weller, Jerry [IL-11] Rep Wittman, Robert J. [VA-1] Rep Wynn, Albert Russell [MD-4]

Rep Alexander, Rodney [LA-5] Rep Andrews, Robert E. [NJ-1] Rep Baldwin, Tammy [WI-2] Rep Bean, Melissa L. [IL-8] Rep Bishop, Rob [UT-1] Rep Blumenauer, Earl [OR-3] Rep Bonner, Jo [AL-1] Rep Boustany, Charles W., Jr. [LA-7] Rep Brown, Henry E., Jr. [SC-1] Rep Camp, Dave [MI-4] Rep Capuano, Michael E. [MA-8] Rep Carney, Christopher P. [PA-10] Rep Clay, Wm. Lacy [MO-1] Rep Cole, Tom [OK-4] Rep Costa, Jim [CA-20] Rep Crenshaw, Ander [FL-4] Rep Cummings, Elijah E. [MD-7] Rep Davis, Jo Ann [VA-1] Rep Deal, Nathan [GA-9] Rep Delahunt, William D. [MA-10] Rep Dent, Charles W. [PA-15] Rep Dingell, John D. [MI-15] Rep Drake, Thelma D. [VA-2] Rep Ellison, Keith [MN-5] Rep Etheridge, Bob [NC-2] Rep Flake, Jeff [AZ-6] Rep Foxx, Virginia [NC-5] Rep Franks, Trent [AZ-2] Rep Gilchrest, Wayne T. [MD-1] Rep Herger, Wally [CA-2] Rep Hirono, Mazie K. [HI-2] Rep Hoekstra, Peter [MI-2] Rep Israel, Steve [NY-2] Rep Jefferson, William J. [LA-2] Rep Kaptur, Marcy [OH-9] Rep Kilpatrick, Carolyn C. [MI-13] Rep Klein, Ron [FL-22] Rep Kuhl, John R. "Randy", Jr. [NY-29] Rep Lamborn, Doug [CO-5] Rep Larsen, Rick [WA-2] Rep LaTourette, Steven C. [OH-14] Rep LoBiondo, Frank A. [NJ-2] Rep Lynch, Stephen F. [MA-9] Rep Markey, Edward J. [MA-7] Rep McGovern, James P. [MA-3] Rep McMorris Rodgers, Cathy [WA-5] Rep Miller, Brad [NC-13] Rep Moore, Dennis [KS-3] Rep Moran, Jerry [KS-1] Rep Murphy, Tim [PA-18] Rep Musgrave, Marilyn N. [CO-4] Rep Olver, John W. [MA-1] Rep Pallone, Frank, Jr. [NJ-6] Rep Payne, Donald M. [NJ-10] Rep Peterson, Collin C. [MN-7] Rep Pitts, Joseph R. [PA-16] Rep Pomeroy, Earl [ND] Rep Regula, Ralph [OH-16] Rep Richardson, Laura [CA-37] Rep Rogers, Mike J. [MI-8] Rep Ruppersberger, C. A. Dutch [MD-2] Rep Salazar, John T. [CO-3] Rep Sanchez, Linda T. [CA-39] Rep Schwartz, Allyson Y. [PA-13] Rep Sestak, Joe [PA-7] Rep Shea-Porter, Carol [NH-1] Rep Snyder, Vic [AR-2] Rep Sutton, Betty [OH-13] Rep Tiberi, Patrick J. [OH-12] Rep Van Hollen, Chris [MD-8] Rep Walsh, James T. [NY-25] Rep Welch, Peter [VT] Rep Wilson, Joe [SC-2] Rep Wolf, Frank R. [VA-10]