H2B Guest Workers
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H2B Immigration Policy Effects the Domestic Seafood Industry

As changes in our domestic labor force have evolved over time, the need for immigrant workers to supplement our domestic workforce has been a crucial component of a viable domestic seafood industry.

In 2005, with the help of several key members of Congress including Senator Barbara Mikulski, Senator John Warner and Congressman Wayne Gilchrest (to name just a few), an amendment vote to add a 2 year provision that allows existing employers and immigrant workers who follow the law to continue to bring this important supply into the U.S passed.

As the two year provision comes to an end soon, the working businessmen from several sectors of the seafood industry are back on the Hill seeking assistance from our lawmakers to extend the H2B aspects important to the seafood industry for a few more years.

Final steps include seeking a permanent solution for the employers and workers who utilize the H2B seasonal labor program.

Track the current status of the Bills

THOMAS
In the spirit of Thomas Jefferson, legislative information from the Library of Congress

Search Bill Summary & Status for the
109th Congress (2005-2006)
select "bill number"
then search for
Senate version SB2284 and House version HR4740

see also
S.AMDT.3217 as an amendment of
SECURING AMERICA'S BORDERS ACT

SB2284 becomes S.AMDT.3217 and receives bipartisian support during Senate floor debate during the consideration of
SECURING AMERICA'S BORDERS ACT
-- (Senate - April 03, 2006)

http://whnuckolsconsulting.com/probono/h2bsenatetestimomy3april06.doc

Senator Barbara Mikulski, D-Maryland, and Congressman Charles Bass, R-New Hampshire, introduce bills to extend the H2-B program exception for returning legal workers.

Senator Mikulski’s Press Release (sent out 2/14/2006):
“My promises made are promises kept.”

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Continuing her commitment to saving small and seasonal businesses across the country, Senator Barbara A. Mikulski (D-Md.) today introduced legislation to enact a three-year extension for a crucial provision in her “Save Our Small and Seasonal Businesses Act,” which was signed into law by President Bush in May 2005. The companion bill was also introduced today in the US House by Congressman Charles Bass (R-N.H.). The “Save Our Small and Seasonal Businesses Act” made significant changes to the federal H2B (non-skilled seasonal worker) visa program that resulted in saving thousands of small businesses around the country. Among the changes, it exempted returning seasonal workers from counting against the national cap of 66,000 people, created new anti-fraud provisions and ensured a fair allocation of H2B visas among spring and summer employees. The cap exemption, which provided significant relief to Maryland’s crab industry that often hires the same dependable workers every year, is set to expire on September 30, 2006. “I promised small businesses they could count on me to keep fighting until we had a solution and they had the seasonal workers they needed to stay in business. My promises made are promises kept,” said Senator Mikulski. “This extension is necessary to make sure that small, seasonal businesses don’t run into the same crisis they faced last year – unable to get the workers they need to survive their season. Without these seasonal workers, many businesses could be forced to limit services, lay off permanent US workers or, worse yet, close their doors.” The Senator took up this cause after learning that many businesses across the country, and particularly in Maryland, were unable to obtain temporary, documented, seasonal, foreign workers through the H2B program. For the second year in a row, the H2B visa cap of 66,000 was reached just a few months into the 2005 fiscal year. Because companies are not allowed to apply for workers more than 120 days before they are needed, many Maryland businesses – that need about 7,700 workers – were unable to apply for visas before the cap was reached. These workers are vital for many companies – including seafood processing, landscaping and hospitality companies – to stay in business. In fact, many use the H2B visa program year after year to legally hire temporary and seasonal staff when American workers are unavailable. A bipartisan group of Senators have joined as co-sponsors to Senator Mikulski's bill.

H2B Program and the Seafood Industry in the News

Radio

National Public Radio:

Mexican Workers Filling Louisiana Oyster Jobs
Weekend Edition - Sunday Feb-19-2006
H2-B Workers help keep businesses afloat after Hurricane

The Status of Katrina Reconstruction: Houma, La.
Weekend Edition Sunday, February 12, 2006
Liane Hansen touches base with Steve Voisin of Motivatit Seafoods about how his family's Louisiana oyster business is doing in the wake of Hurricane Katrina.

Newspaper Articles

Baltimore Sun: Senator hopes to extend visa law Program lets migrants fill seasonal jobs
By Chris Guy Sun reporter
Originally published February 20, 2006

Baltimore Sun: Home beckons for crab pickers A season that began clouded by visa problems ends happily
By Chris Guy sun reporter
Originally published November 22, 2005

ALPHABETICAL
Sen Allen, George [VA] - 2/14/2006
Sen Chafee, Lincoln [RI] - 2/17/2006
Sen Collins, Susan M. [ME] - 2/14/2006
Sen Dayton, Mark [MN] - 2/14/2006
Sen Dorgan, Byron L. [ND] - 2/14/2006
Sen Gregg, Judd [NH] - 2/14/2006
Sen Jeffords, James M. [VT] - 2/14/2006
Sen Johnson, Tim [SD] - 2/14/2006
Sen Kennedy, Edward M. [MA] - 2/27/2006
Sen Kerry, John F. [MA] - 2/14/2006
Sen Levin, Carl [MI] - 2/14/2006
Sen Reed, Jack [RI] - 2/27/2006
Sen Salazar, Ken [CO] - 2/28/2006
Sen Sarbanes, Paul S. [MD] - 2/14/2006
Sen Snowe, Olympia J. [ME] - 2/14/2006
Sen Sununu, John E. [NH] - 2/14/2006
Sen Warner, John [VA] - 2/14/2006

ALPHABETICAL
Rep Allen, Thomas H. [ME-1] - 2/14/2006
Rep Baker, Richard H. [LA-6] - 2/14/2006
Rep Baldwin, Tammy [WI-2] - 2/14/2006
Rep Bartlett, Roscoe G. [MD-6] - 3/7/2006
Rep Bishop, Timothy H. [NY-1] - 2/14/2006
Rep Bordallo, Madeleine Z. [GU] - 2/14/2006
Rep Boustany, Charles W., Jr. [LA-7] - 2/14/2006
Rep Bradley, Jeb [NH-1] - 2/14/2006
Rep Brown, Henry E., Jr. [SC-1] - 3/7/2006
Rep Cannon, Chris [UT-3] - 2/14/2006
Rep Capuano, Michael E. [MA-8] - 2/14/2006
Rep Cardin, Benjamin L. [MD-3] - 2/14/2006
Rep Cleaver, Emanuel [MO-5] - 3/13/2006
Rep Costa, Jim [CA-20] - 3/16/2006
Rep Cubin, Barbara [WY] - 3/9/2006
Rep Davis, Jo Ann [VA-1] - 3/16/2006
Rep Davis, Tom [VA-11] - 3/16/2006
Rep Delahunt, William D. [MA-10] - 2/14/2006
Rep Flake, Jeff [AZ-6] - 2/14/2006
Rep Gilchrest, Wayne T. [MD-1] - 2/14/2006
Rep Herseth, Stephanie [SD] - 2/14/2006
Rep Jones, Walter B., Jr. [NC-3] - 2/14/2006
Rep Kennedy, Mark R. [MN-6] - 2/14/2006
Rep Kind, Ron [WI-3] - 2/14/2006
Rep Kline, John [MN-2] - 2/16/2006
Rep Larson, John B. [CT-1] - 2/14/2006
Rep Levin, Sander M. [MI-12] - 3/2/2006
Rep Melancon, Charlie [LA-3] - 2/14/2006
Rep Michaud, Michael H. [ME-2] - 2/14/2006
Rep Moore, Dennis [KS-3] - 2/14/2006
Rep Moran, Jerry [KS-1] - 2/14/2006
Rep Neal, Richard E. [MA-2] - 3/16/2006
Rep Olver, John W. [MA-1] - 2/14/2006
Rep Ortiz, Solomon P. [TX-27] - 2/14/2006
Rep Pomeroy, Earl [ND] - 2/14/2006
Rep Ruppersberger, C. A. Dutch [MD-2] - 2/14/2006
Rep Ryan, Paul [WI-1] - 2/14/2006
Rep Ryun, Jim [KS-2] - 2/14/2006
Rep Schwarz, John J.H. "Joe" [MI-7] - 2/16/2006
Rep Simmons, Rob [CT-2] - 2/14/2006
Rep Stupak, Bart [MI-1] - 2/14/2006
Rep Sweeney, John E. [NY-20] - 2/14/2006
Rep Van Hollen, Chris [MD-8] - 2/14/2006
Rep Wilson, Joe [SC-2] - 2/14/2006
Rep Wynn, Albert Russell [MD-4] - 2/14/2006
Rep Wynn, Albert Russell [MD-4] - 2/14/2006

Senate Judiciary Committee Membership

Arlen Specter
CHAIRMAN, PENNSYLVANIA

Patrick J. Leahy
RANKING DEMOCRATIC MEMBER, VERMONT

for the Senate Judiciary website click HERE

Committee Chairman: Hon. F. James Sensenbrenner, Jr.
(R) Wisconsin, 5th

Ranking Member: Hon. John Conyers, Jr.

for the House Judiciary website click HERE

The 2005 Successes

With the help of several key members of Congress including Senator Barbara Mikulski, Senator John Warner and Congressman Wayne Gilchrest (to name just a few), an amendment vote to add a 2 year provision that allows existing employers and immigrant workers who follow the law to continue to bring this important supply into the US passed.

With a winning vote of 94-6 in the US Senate we were able to demonstrate overwhelming bipartisan support for this issue.