Page 58 - MNLGA Free State Summer 2021
P. 58
AMERICANHORT A
News from the Hill
H-2B Legislation Introduced filing portal that would eliminate Growing Climate Solutions Act
the need to express mail paper Passes Senate
Laurie Flanagan & Craig
documents;
Regelbrugge Tal Coley
Reps. Henry Cuellar (D-TX), Dave • Require DOL to maintain an online The Senate voted 92-8 on June 24 to
Joyce (R-OH) and a bipartisan jobs registry; pass the Growing Climate Solutions
group of Representatives introduced • Include some program integrity Act. The bill is intended to break
H.R.3897, the “H-2B Returning Worker measures and increase the down barriers for farmers and
Exception Act of 2021” on June 15. The maximum penalties that could foresters to participate in carbon
bill would do the following: be levied against employers who markets, as they can be rewarded for
• Permanently exempt from the willingly and repeatedly violate the climate-smart practices.
66,000 annual H-2B cap workers program’s requirements; To summarize, the bill would create
who have been admitted to work • Require the Departments of Labor a structure and technical assistance
in the United States on an H-2B visa (DOL), Homeland Security (DHS) at the U.S. Department of Agriculture
during one of the past three fiscal and State to create a single online to help growers to participate in
years; filing portal that would eliminate voluntary environmental credit
• Require the Departments of Labor the need to express mail paper markets. Additionally, it would
(DOL), Homeland Security (DHS) documents; require USDA to establish a third-
and State to create a single online • Address misconduct party certification program to certify
that entities meet the requirements
by foreign recruiters
to participate in this program.
and strengthen workers
There would also be an advisory
safety standards for H-2B
council created, which must include
employees while in the
farmers, ranchers, and private forest
United States.
landowners, government officials,
We will continue to keep members of the scientific community,
everyone updated on the nonprofit organizations, socially
status of H-2B legislation. In disadvantaged and historically
the meantime, please take underserved farmers, ranchers,
a few moments to reach and private foresters, and experts
out to your Representative in voluntary environmental credit
using the link below to markets.
support the “H-2B Returning
The focus now turns to the
Worker Exception Act.”
House where a companion bill
http://takeaction. was introduced by Reps. Abigail
americanhort.org/landing- Spanberger (D-VA) and Don Bacon
pages/h2bvisas
58 SUMMER 2021 • Free State News
