On May 21 and 22, TNLA joined over 120 landscape professionals in Washington, D.C., to advocate for the H-2B program. Members met with a bipartisan group of lawmakers to highlight the labor needs of the green industry. The demand for H-2B visas is around 225,000, but the cap is only 66,000. Congress allows DHS to release up to 64,716 additional visas, but this is discretionary.
During the Trump administration, delayed releases meant workers arrived late, impacting businesses. TNLA's focus in D.C. was to urge legislators to amend the FY25 DHS Appropriations Bill, changing the language to require DHS to release supplemental visas when needed.
On June 12, the House Appropriations Committee passed the amendment, mandating the release of additional visas when seasonal business needs cannot be met with U.S. workers. This legislative win is crucial for the green industry. TNLA's successful advocacy underscores the importance of member involvement.
Thank you to the TNLA Board Members who traveled to D.C. for this important visit. For future advocacy opportunities, contact Curtis@tnlaonline.org.
