WASHINGTON, D.C.—JUNE 17, 2021—This week, a group of bipartisan members of Congress introduced legislation, the “H-2B Returning Worker Exception Act,” that would reform the H-2B program by exempting returning workers from an antiquated cap and include some program efficiency and integrity measures.

Many in our industry, including the AQHA, National HBPA and the American Horse Council, have advocated for and support this legislation.

The current H-2B program is broken. The government offers 66,000 H-2B visas a year, and the cap is often reached within the first 30 days of open enrollment. As a result, trainers at racetracks around the country have reported difficulties in filling staff positions and organizations cannot access the critical labor pool provided by the H-2B program that they need.

This legislation would allow any person who was employed as an H-2B worker during the past three fiscal years to return as an H-2B worker without being counted against the annual cap of 66,000.

Exempting returning workers from this antiquated cap is key to ensuring our industry can fill vacant but critical positions. Temporary rules have imposed unnecessary uncertainty on businesses seeking to hire workers legally and forces them to keep jobs unfilled. Reforms would allow employers the ability to plan ahead.

To gain support, the bill also includes important program integrity measures, including increasing enforcement and penalties against employers that knowingly violate the law and strengthening anti-fraud provisions that protect both American and H-2B workers.

Please take a moment to contact your member of Congress with your support. You can find your legislator and their email address here (www.house.gov/representatives/find-your-representative) and a draft template for your use is included below.

A "draft template" can be found below for horsemen and women to copy and paste into an email to their member of Congress. Please make sure to include your name and address.

* * * * * * * * * * *

Dear Congressman,

Recently, bipartisan Representatives Cuellar (D-TX), Joyce (R-OH), Keating (D-MA) Pingree (D-ME), Chabot (R-OH), and Harris (R-MD) introduced the “H-2B Returning Worker Exception Act.” The bill would reform the H-2B program by exempting returning workers from an antiquated cap and also includes program efficiency and integrity measures. As an active member of the horse racing industry and my local economy, I urge you to support this legislation.

The current H-2B program is broken. The government offers 66,000 H-2B visas a year, and the cap is often reached within the first 30 days of open enrollment. As a result, trainers at racetracks around the country have reported difficulties in filling staff positions and organizations cannot access the critical labor pool provided by the H-2B program that they need.

The “H-2B Returning Worker Exception Act” is critical to ensuring our industry can fill vacant but critical seasonal positions. I also support the anti-fraud and integrity measures, including increasing enforcement and penalties against employers that knowingly violate the law.

Please support seasonal businesses by co-sponsoring this important legislation.

Sincerely,

[Your name and address should be added here]

WASHINGTON, D.C.—JUNE 17, 2021—This week, a group of bipartisan members of Congress introduced legislation, the “H-2B Returning Worker Exception Act,” that would reform the H-2B program by exempting returning workers from an antiquated cap and include some program efficiency and integrity measures.

Many in our industry, including the AQHA, National HBPA and the American Horse Council, have advocated for and support this legislation.

The current H-2B program is broken. The government offers 66,000 H-2B visas a year, and the cap is often reached within the first 30 days of open enrollment. As a result, trainers at racetracks around the country have reported difficulties in filling staff positions and organizations cannot access the critical labor pool provided by the H-2B program that they need.

This legislation would allow any person who was employed as an H-2B worker during the past three fiscal years to return as an H-2B worker without being counted against the annual cap of 66,000.

Exempting returning workers from this antiquated cap is key to ensuring our industry can fill vacant but critical positions. Temporary rules have imposed unnecessary uncertainty on businesses seeking to hire workers legally and forces them to keep jobs unfilled. Reforms would allow employers the ability to plan ahead.

To gain support, the bill also includes important program integrity measures, including increasing enforcement and penalties against employers that knowingly violate the law and strengthening anti-fraud provisions that protect both American and H-2B workers.

Please take a moment to contact your member of Congress with your support. You can find your legislator and their email address here (www.house.gov/representatives/find-your-representative) and a draft template for your use is included below.

A "draft template" can be found below for horsemen and women to copy and paste into an email to their member of Congress. Please make sure to include your name and address.

* * * * * * * * * * *

Dear Congressman,

Recently, bipartisan Representatives Cuellar (D-TX), Joyce (R-OH), Keating (D-MA) Pingree (D-ME), Chabot (R-OH), and Harris (R-MD) introduced the “H-2B Returning Worker Exception Act.” The bill would reform the H-2B program by exempting returning workers from an antiquated cap and also includes program efficiency and integrity measures. As an active member of the horse racing industry and my local economy, I urge you to support this legislation.

The current H-2B program is broken. The government offers 66,000 H-2B visas a year, and the cap is often reached within the first 30 days of open enrollment. As a result, trainers at racetracks around the country have reported difficulties in filling staff positions and organizations cannot access the critical labor pool provided by the H-2B program that they need.

The “H-2B Returning Worker Exception Act” is critical to ensuring our industry can fill vacant but critical seasonal positions. I also support the anti-fraud and integrity measures, including increasing enforcement and penalties against employers that knowingly violate the law.

Please support seasonal businesses by co-sponsoring this important legislation.

Sincerely,

[Your name and address should be added here]