Washington, D.C. – Congressman Harris released the following statement after the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Homeland Security passed language to advance the H-2B returning worker exemption out of committee.
The H-2B visa program permits employers to temporarily hire noncitizens to perform nonagricultural labor or services in the United States. The employment must be for a limited period of time, such as a one-time occurrence, seasonal, or intermittent need. Employers seeking to hire H-2B workers must take a series of steps to test the U.S. labor market. They must also provide certification from the Department of Labor that proves there are not enough U.S. workers who are able, willing, qualified, and available to do the temporary work for which they seek a prospective foreign worker, and that employing the H-2B workers will not adversely affect the wages and working conditions of similarly employed U.S. workers.
Congressman Harris Statement: “This is welcome news for the numerous seasonal businesses in Maryland’s First Congressional District and across the nation that rely on the H-2B visa program to meet their labor needs. Demand for foreign workers in seasonal employment has soared in recent years, especially with crippling labor shortages associated with the pandemic. Based on input from small businesses across Maryland’s Eastern Shore, I know this program is an essential part of the First Congressional District’s economy and supports thousands of related jobs filled by American citizens. As such, I am very proud to have worked with my bipartisan colleagues to advance this returning worker exemption through committee and I will continue to support this exemption until a permanent solution is achieved.”