Source: United States Senator for Delaware Christopher Coons
WASHINGTON — Yesterday, U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.) wrote a bipartisan letter with 34 of his Senate colleagues to the Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas and Secretary of Labor Marty Walsh requesting the administration release the maximum allowable number of additional H-2B visas for Fiscal Year 2022. They also urged the administration to expedite the processing of these applications so that the workers can begin work by April 1.
“American businesses from industries such as tourism and hospitality, landscaping, fairs and carnivals, seafood processing, golf courses, reforestation, contractors and horse racing depend on seasonal employment to meet the demand across many industries. Without meaningful H-2B cap relief, many seasonal businesses will be forced to scale back operations, cancel or default on contracts, lay off full-time U.S. workers and, in some cases, close operations completely. By taking action to release and process additional H-2B visas, seasonal businesses and U.S. workers across the country will avoid these harmful consequences and instead help contribute to the American economy,” the senators wrote.
Given the growing demand for H-2B workers as our economy continues to reopen and employers continue to struggle with staffing shortages, Delaware businesses depend on a sufficient number of applications to attract the workers who sustain and support small businesses and agriculture communities. Delaware businesses are often dependent upon foreign workers for seasonal employment, specifically calling about landscapers, fishermen, and groundskeepers for busy beach seasons. H-2B visas reduce labor shortages for Delaware’s seasonal businesses and limit beach towns having to reduce hours and product inventories.
The letter was led by Senators Angus King (I-Maine) and Michael Rounds (R-S.D.). In addition to Senator Coons, Senators Lindsey Graham (R-N.C.), James Risch (R-Idaho), Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), Tom Carper (D-Del.), Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), Rob Portman (R-Ohio), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Roy Blunt (R-M.O.), Raphael Warnock (D-G.A.), Cindy Lummis (R-Wyo.), John Cornyn (R-Texas), Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.), Mike Crapo (R-Ind.), Mark Warner (D-Va.), John Thune (R-S.D.), John Hickenlooper (D-Colo.), Susan Collins (R-Maine), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Tina Smith (D-Minn.), Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Roger Wicker (R-Miss.), Kysten Sinema (D-Ariz.), Jerry Moran (R-Kan.), Ron Wyden (R-Ore.), Rand Paul (R-Ky.), Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.), John Barrasso (D-Wyo.), Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), and Tim Scott (R-S.C.) also co-signed the letter.
The full letter is available here.
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