Congressional Activity on Seasonal Workers

It is important that everyone in our industry is aware of legislation now being considered by the U.S. Congress that would assist landscape professionals who utilize the H-2B visa program for seasonal employees. This legislation addresses a repeat worker provision, which exempts such workers from counting against the visa's annual 66,000 cap. The repeat worker exemption expires on September 30, 2007; this legislation would extend it.

The H-2B visa program is a long-established and well-defined legal mechanism to help landscape contractors and other businesses obtain seasonal employees. Because the labor shortage for seasonal workers is expected to continue and even grow, a longer-term solution is needed, which this legislation will assist. Groups such as the Professional Landcare Network (PLANET) and the American Nursery and Landscape Association (ANLA) are participating in a grassroots campaign on this matter.

If you would like to learn more, visit our page on the background of H-2B.