The U.S. Chamber of Commerce estimates that for every 100 open jobs in Maine, there are only 42 available workers.
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Susan Collins joined a bipartisan push led by Senators Angus King (I-ME) and Mike Rounds (R-SD) for the release of supplemental H-2B seasonal employment visas to support small businesses across the United States. In their letter to Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and Department of Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer the group called on the Administration to release the maximum allowable number of additional H-2B visas for Fiscal Year (FY) 2026. H-2B visas fill workforce needs for American small businesses that are unable to hire enough American workers to fill the temporary, seasonal positions, and bipartisan research shows employing these workers boosts wages across the board.
As required by law, employers must first make a concerted effort to hire American workers to fill open positions; when the local workforce is insufficient, the H-2B visa program is seen as a necessary tool to support local economies. With Maine continuing to experience a shortage of seasonal and temporary employees, these nonimmigrant visas provide a lifeline for the economy and ensure small businesses can meet the demand for their products and services. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce estimates that for every 100 open jobs in Maine, there are only 42 available workers.
“These visas will allow employers to supplement their U.S. workforce to keep their businesses open, as well as provide additional certainty regarding their workforce planning decisions in the coming months,” the Senators wrote.
“Chronic labor shortages—faced by seasonal U.S. employers throughout the nation’s history—have been exacerbated by the post-pandemic evolution of the American workforce. As this need grows, so does the pressure on U.S. workers, whose employers’ workforce needs cannot be met with American workers alone,” they continued. “The H-2B program places requirements on employers to recruit U.S. workers, who are intentionally prioritized by the program and receive demonstrated, positive impacts from their seasonal colleagues. In fact, a 2020 Government Accountability Office report concluded that ‘counties with H-2B employers generally had lower unemployment rates and higher average weekly wages than counties that do not have any H-2B employers.’
Issuing the extra discretionary H-2B visas in a timely manner will help alleviate these workforce shortages and, in doing so, will help create and sustain the jobs of American workers who rely on the H-2B workers to support their duties during their peak seasons,” the Senators concluded.
In addition to Senators Collins, King and Rounds, the letter was signed by by Senators Chris Coons (D-DE), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Deb Fischer (R-NE), Tim Scott (R-SC), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Michael Crapo (R-ID), Susan Collins (R-ME), John Barrasso (R-WY), Pete Ricketts (R-Neb), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Thom Tillis (R-NC), Raphael Warnock (D-GA), Steve Daines (R-MT), Jerry Moran (R-KS), John Hickenlooper (D-CO), Cynthia Lummis (R-WY), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Elissa Slotkin (D-MI), John Thune (R-SD), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Tina Smith (D-MN), Maggie Hassan (D-NH), Michael Bennet (D-CO), Peter Welch (D-VT), Angela Alsobrooks (D-MD), Jim Risch (R-ID), and Maria Cantwell (D-WA).
“The H-2B worker program is vital resource for hotel owners and operators to meet seasonal demands, while also supporting local employment. Each H-2B worker supports about three to five local U.S. jobs. With major events like the World Cup and America 250 on the horizon, we urge the Department of Homeland Security to release supplemental visas immediately so hotels can plan for the influx of travel demand and show the world what American hospitality looks like,” said American Hotel & Lodging President & CEO Rosanna Maietta.
The complete text the letter can be read here.
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