LAWMAKER PUSHES VOTE ON AGRICULTURE H-2B WORKFORCE

News Date March 10, 2008

       Rep. Charles Boustany (R-La.) introduced a congressional petition (H. Res. 1025) on March 6 to increase the number of H-2B seasonal agricultural workers. NASDA sent a letter to key congressional and administration leaders last week urging them to quickly renew the H-2B foreign worker program which is critical to agriculture and related industries. 
       The congressional discharge petition introduced by Boustany would force a House floor vote on legislation sponsored by Rep. Bart Stupack (D-Mich.) to increase the number of temporary seasonal workers allowed to enter the country this year. The current program caps the number of H-2B visas that can be issued to 66,000 per year. An estimated 150,000 to 200,000 experienced H-2B workers will not be able to reenter legally to sustain these industries unless Congress acts to renew the returning worker exemption. The Boustany petition requires signatures from 218 lawmakers for the legislation to move forward with a vote. 
       Meanwhile, House Republican leaders are also pushing for votes on another immigration bill sponsored by Rep. Heath Shuler (D-N.C.) to beef up enforcement of immigration laws. Lawmakers are plan to file a separate discharge petition to force a vote on Shuler's bill. 
       NASDA members approved a resolution during their recent midyear meeting supporting agricultural workforce needs. NASDA's letter to Congress and the administration is posted on the NASDA website and is described in more detail in the March 3 issue of NASDA News. (Contact: Charlie Ingram)