Following Pappas Advocacy, Administration Increases Seasonal Visas, But More Action Is Needed

Press Release

Pappas applauded the Administration for lifting the cap on H-2B visas while continuing his calls to reform the system to help small businesses
WASHINGTON, DC - Today, Congressman Chris Pappas (NH-01) applauded the announcement that the cap on H-2B seasonal worker visas, which are critical to New Hampshire's economy, has been increased. This will allow an additional 22,000 temporary, non-agricultural visa spots to open.

"This announcement about increasing the number of H-2B visas is good news for the New Hampshire economy, but as I have said before, more action is needed to address the problem impacting hundreds of businesses in New Hampshire," said Congressman Pappas. "Since taking office, I have worked with members of Congress, Administration officials, and Granite State small businesses of all stripes to address the urgent needs of seasonal employers in my state and across the country. The time has clearly come for Congress to reform the H-2B system, including reinstating the returning worker exemption, so that New Hampshire small business owners have the certainty and predictability they deserve. I urge the Administration to expedite these additional visas to ensure that our small businesses do not have to wait any longer for the help they need, and I will continue to fight to get New Hampshire businesses the resources they need."

Pappas has been a leader in Congress calling for an increase in H-2B seasonal worker visas to support New Hampshire's economy, while also pushing for greater reforms to the system to eliminate red tape for New Hampshire small businesses and businesses throughout the country and ensure they have access to the workforce they need.

In addition to increasing the number of H-2B visas available to Granite State small businesses, Pappas is also urging the administration to again exempt returning H-2B workers from counting against the cap. This returning worker exemption expired in September 2016 but Congress at the time failed to reauthorize it.

Since taking office, Congressman Pappas has advocated for New Hampshire's seasonal businesses and for reforming the temporary worker visa process. He has met with small businesses to hear directly from them about the need to make additional H-2B visas available. He also spoke several times with Trump administration officials urging them to release additional H-2B visas to address workforce shortages in New Hampshire and across the country in seasonal industries.

In December, Pappas voted to pass the bipartisan omnibus appropriations package which authorized additional H-2B visas for Fiscal Year 2021 for temporary nonagricultural labor to address the urgent needs of seasonal employers

In March 2020, Congressman Pappas commended the Department of Homeland Security's (DHS) announcement that it would make available 35,000 supplemental temporary nonagricultural worker visas (H-2B) for the second half of Fiscal Year 2020, while underscoring the need for additional visas to be released and calling on Congress to fix our broken immigration system in order to meet the workforce needs of Granite State employers.

Additional actions Congressman Pappas has taken on this issue:

On January 15, 2019, Pappas signed a letter to the House leadership asking for permanent, meaningful H-2B cap relief in any budget agreement.
On March 5, 2019, Pappas signed a letter to then-DHS Secretary Nielsen asking her to release additional H-2B visas without delay.
On May 31, 2019, Pappas signed a letter to the Appropriations Committee requesting meaningful visa cap relief.
On November 12, 2019, Pappas signed a letter to House leadership asking for the release of 64,716 additional H-2B visas in the year-end appropriations package.
On January 27, 2020, Pappas signed a letter to Acting DHS Director Wolf, asking him to release all available visas.

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