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Help Passage of the Save Small and Seasonal Businesses Act

Now that Congress has rejected a comprehensive immigration bill, it is time for business owners who employ temporary seasonal foreign workers to press for passage of the Save Our Small and Seasonal Businesses Act of 2007 (S 988/HR 1843).

Get involved now. Contact your member of Congress and your two U.S. Senators to let them know that you need their help. If Congress cannot pass this act, you and your business will suffer.

The H-2B program allows U.S. employers to hire foreign workers for temporary, seasonal non-agricultural work. Only 66,000 foreign workers can receive initial H-2B status during each government fiscal year (October 1 through September 30), with exceptions for recently returning workers.

The Save Our Small and Seasonal Businesses Act of 2007:

• Will extend the H-2B Returning Worker Exemption (5-year exemption in the Senate Bill, complete exemption in the House Bill). This exemption is due to expire September 30, 2007.
• Does not change anything else about the H-2B program.
• Does not include objectionable provisions from the immigration bill.
• Is sponsored by Senator Mikulski and Representatives Stupak, Musgrave, and Gilchrest.

Talking points:

• H-2B workers don’t take jobs away from Americans. They are employed because there are not enough Americans willing to take temporary, seasonal jobs.
• H-2B workers are employed legally and return home when their visas expire.
• Year-round, permanent jobs depend on the availability of this labor during the peak busy season. If Congress does not fix the H-2B program, permanent American jobs will be lost.

For more information:
www.savesmallbusiness.org
www.landscapemanagement.net/landscape
www.foreignlaborcert.doleta.gov/h-2b.cfm