[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 28 (Tuesday, February 11, 2020)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E169]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




      AMID BOOMING ECONOMY URGING TRUMP ADMINISTRATION TO RELEASE 
                        SUPPLEMENTAL H-2B VISAS

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. ANDY HARRIS

                              of maryland

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, February 11, 2020

  Mr. HARRIS. Madam Speaker, thanks to the Trump Administration, the 
American economy is booming. Job growth surged by 225,000 positions in 
January, and the unemployment rate remains near the 50 year low. These 
are just the latest indicators of a resurgent American economy under 
President Trump. With Mr. Trump in office, the U.S. economy has added 
more than 100,000 new jobs for 34 of the 38 months and the unemployment 
rate has been at or below 4 percent for 23 consecutive months--nearly 
two years. Americans of all backgrounds have benefited from this 
economic boom with the unemployment rates for African Americans, 
Hispanic Americans, and Asian Americans all hitting record lows in 
2019. The labor force participation rate is at 63.4 percent, the 
highest level since 2013 and nearly three quarters of new positions are 
being filled by individuals previously outside the labor force. Wage 
growth is holding at or above 3 percent for the 18th consecutive month 
and, under President Trump, workers' wages are rising faster than 
managers' wages.
  With all of this success, it is easy to forget that this booming 
economy has also brought labor shortages throughout the economy, 
particularly for seasonal businesses. Right now, there are simply more 
seasonal jobs open than there are Americans willing, able and qualified 
to fill them. On behalf of seasonal businesses from industries such as 
seafood processing, tourism and hospitality, landscaping, fairs and 
carnivals, golf courses, reforestation, contractors and horse racing, 
who continue to struggle with seasonal labor shortages, I rise to urge 
the administration to release adequate supplemental H-2B visas, as 
authorized by the Further Consolidated Appropriations Act 2020, to meet 
these seasonal businesses' temporary seasonal labor needs.
  As a member of the Committee on Appropriations, I coauthored the 
amendment in the FY 2020 Department of Homeland Security Appropriations 
bill that authorizes the administration to release additional H-2B 
visas. In January, I sent a letter with 188 of my colleagues, both 
Democrat and Republican, from both the House and Senate, urging the 
Administration to exercise that authority and release additional H-2B 
visas. The bipartisan support for this program demonstrates the 
significant economic impact these workers have across our country.
  The temporary guest workers provided by the H-2B program are vital to 
the American economy and the economy of Maryland's First District, 
particularly on the Eastern Shore, and support tens of thousands of 
down-stream American jobs. While it is ultimately the responsibility of 
Congress to provide a long term solution to the chronic shortage of H-
2B visas, I strongly urge the administration to use the authority 
granted to them to continue to support these seasonal businesses and 
release an adequate number of additional H-2B visas to meet the labor 
demands of seasonal employers nationwide.

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