In a joint release published this week, the Department of Homeland Security and the Department of Labor announced the availability of an additional 66,000 H-2B visas as of October 1, 2022, the start of Fiscal Year 2023. The need for H-2B workers is incredibly high in the hospitality and tourism industries, which rely on seasonal labor to keep operations going during periods of high demand. AAHOA and our members have long advocated in favor of visa programs, notably as long-standing member of the H-2B Workforce Coalition. AAHOA recently called for visa support during the 2022 Fall National Advocacy Conference for Congress to support the Essential Workers for Economic Advancement Act (H.R. 7239), which would increase the H-2C visas. AAHOA welcomes the additional visas and their contributions to the American labor market, and will keep our members apprised of the latest updates. In a recent LinkedIn post, AAHOA President & CEO Laura Lee Blake said, “Through legislative advocacy and political giving, AAHOA members have become civic leaders on behalf of small businesses in the United States. We are just getting started!” You can also watch AAHOA Chairman Neal Patel discuss all the topics AAHOA is advocating for at the highest levels of government.
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