The Irrigation Association, Fairfax, Virginia, has joined national and regional organizations in signing a letter addressed to key U.S. Congressional leaders advocating for H-2B cap relief. The letter was sent to the chairs and ranking members of the Senate and House Appropriations Committees.
The coalition of companies represented in the letter is composed of a variety of industries reliant on seasonal workers and is requesting an increase in the number of H-2B visas available annually. The current cap, set at 66,000 visas, has been deemed insufficient to meet the demand for seasonal labor in sectors such as landscaping, irrigation, hospitality and other industries that experience fluctuations in employment needs based on the season, according to the letter.
The letter emphasizes the crucial role that H-2B workers play in supporting U.S. businesses and the wider economy. It points out that without adequate numbers of these seasonal workers, many businesses face the risk of not fulfilling contracts, turning away customers, laying off American workers or even ceasing operations.
“The fate of seasonal businesses and their domestic workforce should not be dependent upon a lottery,” reads the letter. “Seasonal businesses need meaningful cap relief so they can continue to generate economic growth and job creation for American workers across the country. We urge you to include H-2B cap relief in the Fiscal 2025 Department of Homeland Security appropriations bill and continue the long-standing H-2B regulatory relief provisions in the Fiscal 2025 Department of Health and Human Services, Labor and Education appropriations bill.”
