Central South Dakota News

U.S. Senators Mike Rounds and Angus King, along with a bipartisan group of colleagues, have urged the Department of Labor (DOL) and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to release the maximum number of additional H-2B visas for Fiscal Year 2025. These visas are intended to support American small businesses that face challenges in hiring enough local workers for temporary, seasonal positions.

H-2B visas are used when employers cannot find enough American workers despite efforts to hire locally. Employers often incur higher costs to employ these temporary workers, who must be paid a prevailing wage as mandated by the U.S. Department of Labor.

"We write on behalf of seasonal businesses in our states—including employers of housekeepers in tourist destinations, landscapers with defined seasons, seafood processors with short harvesting windows, and fairs and carnivals—who are struggling to hire a sufficient number of temporary, seasonal laborers to support their operations," stated the Senators. They further urged DHS and DOL "to utilize the authority provided by Congress in the FY2025 Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act to release the maximum allowable number of additional H-2B visas for Fiscal Year 2025."

The letter was signed by several other senators including John Barrasso, Michael Bennet, Maria Cantwell, Ben Cardin, Tom Carper, Susan Collins, Chris Coons, John Cornyn among others.

The letter emphasizes that many employers rely on the H-2B program not only to sustain their businesses but also to support their American workforce. The program requires employers to prioritize recruiting U.S. workers while also benefiting from positive impacts due to collaboration with seasonal colleagues.

A 2020 Government Accountability Office report noted that "counties with H-2B employers generally had lower unemployment rates and higher average weekly wages than counties that do not have any H-2B employers." Current employment data indicates increasing job openings in industries representing top H-2B occupations.

The Senators highlighted that Congress has given DHS authority over lifting visa caps for eight consecutive fiscal years due to persistent labor shortages. They encouraged prompt action similar to previous years' rules given growing demand for H-2B workers amid ongoing staffing challenges.