Page 42 - Free State Summer 2022
P. 42
AMERICANHORT A (Continued)
that they are moving forward drafting
their bills. Since then, a Department
of Homeland Security subcommittee
markup took place, leading to the
next step, which is consideration of
the bill by the full Appropriations
Committee.
Around 80 H-2B users came to the
Nation’s Capital for the fly-in, including
current HRI President, Alan Jones of
Manor View Farm, MD, a long-time
strong advocate for H-2B reform.
He reminded congressional staffers
about the difficulty of relying on a
lottery system to keep your business
afloat.
While AmericanHort and coalition
colleagues continue to support
permanent reform legislation such
as H.R.3897, some form of cap relief
via the appropriations process (either
concerns led the H-2B Workforce H-2B Day on the Hill a Success a returning worker exemption or
Coalition and political champions AmericanHort and several other improved discretionary authority
to accept renewed discretionary industry groups hosted an H-2B day language) are the more likely near-
authority as the fallback. In exchange of action on June 8 to push for reforms term outcome. Thanks to all who
for the Appropriators not pursuing to the program, most importantly brought their voices and stories to our
a short-term Returning Worker visa cap relief. Seasonal businesses Nation’s Capital. A
Exemption (RWE), the House Judiciary need certainty and reliability when it Sara Neagu-Reed
Committee will convene formal comes to meeting seasonal workforce
negotiations involving the AFL-CIO needs. For horticulture, it takes a big
and the H-2B Workforce Coalition. seasonal worker surge to install and Craig J. Regelbrugge
We are very cautiously optimistic that care for trees, shrubs, flowers, plants, Executive Vice President
these negotiations may produce a and landscapes. Advocacy, Research &
bipartisan agreement that includes Industry Relations
permanent RWE language. In the The day of action was timed to 202-789-8111
meantime, there are still many target the annual appropriations Sara Neagu-Read is
hurdles ahead to secure cap relief for process now underway, since that Director of Advocacy and
H-2B in FY23, but we are in the best has been the customary vehicle for Government Relations at
position we have been in for several stopgap relief via a “returning worker AmericanHort
years to secure annual and possibly exemption” or discretionary authority
permanent cap relief. to the Administration to release Evan Lee is Director
additional visas. During Day of Action of Policy and
Sara Neagu-Read is Director of Government Relations at
Advocacy and Government Relations meetings, key members of the House AmericanHort.
at AmericanHort. Appropriations Committee reported
42 SUMMER 2022 • Free State News
