[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 154 (2008), Part 5]
[House]
[Pages 6167-6168]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                      H-2B IS A SUCCESSFUL PROGRAM

  (Mrs. DRAKE asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend her remarks.)
  Mrs. DRAKE. Madam Speaker, H-2B is a legal, temporary worker program 
that has been very successful in providing our Nation's small 
businesses with the workforce they need during peak business seasons. 
However, an important provision expired last September.
  Many in Congress have acted in support of legislation that would have 
fixed this escalating problem. Bills, amendments, and discharge 
petitions have been introduced as early as last March; yet, no action.
  Yesterday, the House passed an extension of the Religious Worker Visa 
Program while many of our Nation's small and seasonal businesses are 
still struggling to find workers, and Congress has responded with 
nothing but a hearing.
  That hearing is today, Madam Speaker, nearly 7 months after the H-2B 
exemption expired. I can only hope that this Congress will give our 
small businesses a legal solution to their workforce needs.

[[Page 6168]]



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