Bennet, Hickenlooper Urge Biden Administration To Address Labor Shortages With Visa Cap Relief

Press Release

Colorado U.S. Senators Michael Bennet and John Hickenlooper joined U.S. Senators Angus King (I-Maine) and Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) and a bipartisan group of senators in a letter to Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas and Department of Labor (DOL) Secretary Marty Walsh to request that the Biden Administration release the maximum allowable number of additional H-2B visas for Fiscal Year 2022. Making available an additional 44,716 H-2B visas will help address the seasonal labor shortage and support Colorado businesses this spring and summer. The senators also urged the administration to expedite the processing of these applications so that the workers can begin by April 1.

"We urge that the Department of Homeland Security, in consultation with the Department of Labor, utilize the authority provided by Congress to release the maximum allowable number of additional H-2B visas for Fiscal Year 2022 (FY22)," wrote Bennet, Hickenlooper, and the senators. "We further request that your agencies take steps to process pending H-2B applications in advance of the start of the April 1 hiring period for the second half of FY22, including by instituting emergency procedures previously used by DOL to address labor certification processing delays."

"Without meaningful H-2B cap relief, many seasonal businesses will be forced to scale back operations, cancel or default on contracts, lay off full-time U.S. workers and, in some cases, close operations completely," continued Bennet, Hickenlooper, and their colleagues. "By taking action to release and process additional H-2B visas, seasonal businesses and U.S. workers across the country will avoid these harmful consequences and instead help contribute to the American economy."

Given the growing labor demand as the U.S. economy reopens, employers are struggling with staffing shortages and Colorado businesses are often dependent upon a sufficient number of H-2B visa approvals to sustain and support their needs. Colorado businesses, especially in the landscaping, tourism, and outdoor recreation industries, often depend on foreign workers for seasonal employment during peak seasons. The H-2B visa program helps reduce labor shortages for Colorado's seasonal businesses across the state.

In addition to Bennet, Hickenlooper, King, and Rounds, the letter was also signed by U.S. Senators Susan Collins (R-Maine), Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), Chris Coons (D-Del.), James Risch (R-Idaho), Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), Robert Menendez (D-N.J.), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Roy Blunt (R-Mo.), Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.), Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.), Thomas Carper (D-Del.), John Cornyn (R-Texas), Joe Manchin III (D-W.Va.), Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), Mark Warner (D-Va.), John Thune (R-S.D.), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Pat Toomey (R-Pa.), Tina Smith (D-Minn.), Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Roger Wicker (R-Miss.), Kyrsten Sinema (D-Ariz.), Jerry Moran (R-Kan.), Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Rand Paul (R-Ky.), Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.), John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), and Tim Scott (R-S.C.).

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