Thune, Ricketts, Hickenlooper Introduce Bill to Address Seasonal Labor Needs
Senators’ bipartisan legislation would enable governors to secure supplemental H2-B nonimmigrant workers
WASHINGTON — U.S. Sens. John Thune (R-S.D.), Pete Ricketts (R-Neb.), and John Hickenlooper (D-Colo.) recently introduced the State Executive Authority for Seasonal Occupations Needing Additional Labor (SEASONAL) Act, bipartisan legislation that would permit governors to petition the federal government for supplemental H-2B visas beyond the national cap of 66,000. Eligibility to seek additional H-2B visas would only be granted to states that have had an unemployment rate at or below 3.5 percent for at least nine of 12 months prior to their request.
“Federal inaction shouldn’t prevent state leaders from doing everything they can to strengthen their economies,” said Thune. “Labor needs plague nearly every sector in South Dakota, which is why I’m proud to introduce this legislation that would empower states to help alleviate workforce shortages while reinforcing protections for South Dakota workers.”
“Nebraska had the highest net employment rate in the country last year, yet many businesses have struggled to find qualified workers,” said Ricketts. “This bill will enable governors from states like mine to utilize more temporary workers to address this critical labor shortage and grow their economies.”
“Colorado companies rely on H-2B workers. But in recent years, our businesses are facing widespread worker shortages because available visas haven’t kept up with demand,” said Hickenlooper. “Our bill gives states more flexibility to advocate for the workers they need.”
The SEASONAL Act would permit governors to petition the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) for a specific number of supplemental H-2B visas beyond the national cap of 66,000. DHS would issue such visas, and, if the number of employer applications still exceed a governor’s request, they would then allocate the visas through a lottery system. Governors would have the ability to request that visas only be made available for certain DOL Standard Occupational Classification Groups or employers in specific Economic Development Districts. Unless reauthorized, this authority would sunset four years after enactment.
Nothing in the bill would prohibit a state legislature from imposing limitations on a governor concerning the program, including the number of visas requested, the DOL classification group for which H-2B visas could be requested, or the Economic Development Districts where the visas could be used. Additionally, any supplemental workers provided under this bill would be subject to any existing or future DOL requirements. The bill would also require an annual report on the program’s utilization and outcomes, including worker displacement, wages, and economic growth and productivity.
U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) is also a cosponsor of the SEASONAL Act.
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The root cause is general apathy and laziness in development of our economies, which should provide living wages for every job.
More outsourcing of America from our Senator.
FaceBook, Microsoft, Amazon, etc were built largely by many foreigners.
Why would we expect these systems to favor our own country?
I have to say I agree with John Dale here, if you look at the cost of everything from housing to materials, wages have just not kept up with the rate of growth there. The solution isn’t trying to get kids to work, or remove higher education, it is finding a way to get higher wages. Congress has realized this, that is why they all make $200k/yr for working 3 days a week. This most likely will have to come from those top income earners who claim to do the work of 100’s of their employees to justify the wage of 100+ of their employees.
Yup, we need Mexican and Central American laborers. No surprise there. they are building this country, whether we like it or not.
I have a nephew who returned from living in China in 2021. He learned some rudimentary Mandarin Chinese while there (I can understand, if they slow down, he says) and he says he was stopped on the street everyday by young Chinese who always asked two questions. 1. How to access on the internet Hip Hop Music. They also like to listen to American Rock radio stations. The Chinese Government has jammed and censored the internet but most young people know how to get around that internet censorship. 2. they ask, “Can you help me get to America??” guess I should tell him to tell them to contact Senator Thune.
These ‘seasonal workers’ will be let in, but they won’t be leaving after their labor is done. No, they will sign up for welfare and the newly-expanded Medicaid in South Dakota, all paid for by South Dakota Taxpayers.
You have no representation in Washington, D.C.