SEN COLLINS TO INTRODUCE LEGISLATION TO HELP EMPLOYERS WHO RELY ON H-2B VISA WORKERS

WASHINGTON, DC-- Senator Susan Collins, the chairman of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, plans to introduce legislation that will provide relief to employers who rely on H-2B visas for their seasonal workers, but are unable to obtain them because of a statutory cap on the number of visas that are available. The Department of Homeland Security has announced that as of today, it will no longer accept applications for H-2B visa workers for 2005, placing a burden on a large number of Maine's small tourism businesses, particularly those that rely on these workers during the tourist season. Senator Collins has been working to find a solution to this problem and will be introducing legislation to make more H-2B visas available.

"These temporary worker visas are vital to helping hundreds of Maine's small businesses operate at full capacity, particularly during tourist season. When there are not enough American workers to fill these jobs and temporary work visas are not available, businesses throughout the state suffer, and it has an effect on the entire tourism industry, upon which Maine's economy is so reliant," said Senator Collins.

"The current system is broken; it simply does not work for Maine. Ceilings are being reached before Maine employers, many of whom do not need H-2B workers until the summer months, are allowed even to apply for these visas. This is a problem that will continue year after year, until a long-term solution is found. When the 109th Congress convenes, I will be introducing legislation to address this issue, which is important to Maine's economy," Senator Collins added.

At issue is the national cap of 66,000 on H-2B visas, which allows seasonal workers to hold temporary jobs in the U.S. after employers demonstrate that there are not American workers to fill the jobs. The Department of Homeland Security announced today that the cap has already been met for 2005, almost three months earlier than it was met last year. Therefore, employers who have not already submitted applications for H-2B visa workers this year, will no longer be able to do so.

Specifically, Senator Collins plans to introduce legislation that will allow returning foreign workers to hold temporary, seasonal jobs without their visas being counted against the national cap. It is estimated that this provision could make an additional 10,000 visas available.

In addition, Senator Collins' legislation would require that a significant number of visas be issued each quarter, to prevent the cap for the entire year from being met so early in the year. Senator Collins explained that this provision would help Maine's tourism industry, which is already at a disadvantage because of their need for visas much later in the year. Regions of the country that have earlier tourism seasons than does Maine are able to obtain H-2B visa workers before the cap is reached.

In addition to introducing this legislation, Senator Collins will continue leading a bipartisan group in the Senate to address this issue.

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