U.S. Senators Angus King (I-Maine) and Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), along with a bipartisan group of their colleagues, have formally requested the Department of Labor (DOL) and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to release the maximum allowable number of additional H-2B visas for Fiscal Year 2025.
These visas are crucial for small American businesses that rely on temporary, seasonal workers when local labor is insufficient to meet demand.
The H-2B visa program is designed to help businesses in sectors like hospitality, landscaping, and construction during peak seasons, ensuring they can continue operations even when the local workforce falls short.
By law, U.S. employers must first attempt to hire American workers before turning to the H-2B program. The senators emphasized that these visas are vital for maintaining economic stability, particularly in states like Maine, where seasonal industries are central to the economy.
In a letter addressed to the DOL and DHS, the senators expressed concerns over the ongoing labor shortages faced by seasonal businesses. They highlighted that the Fiscal Year 2025 H-2B visa cap for the first half of the year was reached on September 18—several weeks earlier than the previous year. This early cutoff is especially problematic for businesses whose peak seasons occur in late fall and winter, leaving them without the necessary workforce to meet demand.
The bipartisan appeal is not new. Senators King and Rounds have consistently advocated for increasing the availability of H-2B visas. In 2022, they successfully pushed for the release of the maximum number of supplemental H-2B visas, ensuring businesses had access to workers throughout the entire fiscal year. The current request builds on those efforts, urging the departments to provide immediate relief for businesses already struggling with labor shortages.
According to a 2020 Government Accountability Office (GAO) report, counties with H-2B employers generally experience lower unemployment rates and higher average weekly wages compared to those without H-2B employers. The senators argue that this data underscores the importance of the program not just for businesses but for overall economic health in many regions of the country.
TThe letter was also signed by Senators John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Tom Carper (D-Del.), Susan Collins (R-Maine), Chris Coons (D-Del.), John Cornyn (R-Teas.), Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.), Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), John Fetterman (D-Penn.), Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.), George Helmy (D-N.J.), John Hickenlooper (D-Colo.), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.), Joe Manchin (I-W.V.), Jerry Moran (R-Kan.), Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), Pete Ricketts (R-Neb.), Jim Risch (R-Idaho), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Tina Smith (D-Minn.), Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska), John Thune (R-S.D.), Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Mark Warner (D-Va.), Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.), Peter Welch (D-Vt.), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), Roger Wicker (R-Miss.), Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Kyrsten Sinema (I-Ariz.) and Tim Scott (R-S.C.)
They collectively urged DOL and DHS to act quickly, ensuring seasonal businesses have access to the temporary workers they need to operate smoothly and maintain their contributions to local economies.
The public will be watching closely to see how the DOL and DHS respond to the growing pressure from lawmakers and business owners alike. With peak seasonal demands fast approaching, businesses in industries such as hospitality and tourism are anxiously awaiting relief through additional H-2B visas.
