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| For Immediate Release |
Contact: Andy Deloney |
October 4, 2007
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517/377-3931 |
National, Michigan Restaurant Associations Push For Reform as H-2B Visa Cap is Reached Early
H-2B Temporary Visas Provide Needed Labor Source to Seasonal Businesses
The National Restaurant Association and the Michigan Restaurant Association
reacted today to the announcement from the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration
Services (USCIS) that the H-2B temporary visa cap of 33,000 has already been
reached for the first half of fiscal year 2008.
“Employers rely on H-2B temporary visas for short-term help in situations where
U.S. workers are not available,” said John Gay, senior vice president of Government
Affairs and Public Policy for the National Restaurant Association. “By hitting
the cap so quickly, many employers will be prohibited from applying for needed
seasonal workers. It is now more
important than ever that Congress pass legislation making the H-2B returning
worker exemption permanent, or at the very least providing an extension of the
provision.”
The returning worker exemption allows an H-2B visa employee who has worked in
the U.S. during any one of the previous three years to return on an H-2B visa without
counting against the annual visa cap.
Approximately 50,000 H-2B workers were returning workers last year.
Without an extension of the returning worker exemption, seasonal employers will
not be able to hire H-2B visa workers until the beginning of the second half of
the fiscal year on April 1, 2008.
“Making the
returning worker exemption permanent is critical to countless Michigan small businesses, particularly in
the tourism industry,” said Rob Gifford, president and CEO of the Michigan
Restaurant Association. “Without an
extension, hundreds of small restaurant, hotel, motel and other hospitality
businesses will be without the necessary staffing they need in order to fully
operate.”
U.S. Sens. Barbara Mikulski (D-MD) and John Warner (R-VA) have introduced S. 988,
bipartisan legislation to provide a 5 year extension of the Save Our Small and
Seasonal Businesses Act. U.S. Reps. Bart Stupak (D-MI), Marilyn Musgrave (R-CO)
and Wayne Gilchrest (R-MD) have introduced H.R. 1843 in the House that would
make the exemption permanent.
To show their support, state Sen. Jason Allen (R-Traverse City)
and state Rep. Gary McDowell (D-Rudyard) have introduced resolutions in Lansing calling on the
Congress to pass this legislation. Both
gentlemen were able to convince the state Senate and the House to pass their
resolutions.
Founded in 1921, the Michigan Restaurant Association represents more than 4,500 Michigan foodservice establishments. The foodservice industry plays an integral role in Michigan’s economy, employing more than 436,000 people and creating more than $11.3 billion in total annual sales. For more information, call (517) 482-5244.
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