• 0Shopping Cart
American Horse Council
  • About Us
    • Leadership
      • Board Of Trustees
      • Governance
      • Staff
      • AHC Committees
    • Membership
      • FAQ’s
      • Become A Member
      • Sponsors
      • AHC Discount Programs
    • Annual Reports
    • Employment Opportunities
    • AHC Internships
  • Issues
    • Legislation
    • Regulations
    • Take Action
      • Congressional Scorecard
  • ELECTION CENTER
    • Get Involved
    • Vote Early!
    • Congressional Scorecard
    • Political Action Committee
    • Legislative Process and How A Law is Enacted
  • AHC Programs
    • AHC Foundation
    • United Horse Coalition
    • Marketing Alliance
    • Equine Disease Communication Center
    • American Horse Council Microchip Look-Up
    • Coalition of State Horse Council
    • DEI – Diversity Equity Inclusion
    • Equine Industry Executive Forum
  • Member Portal
  • Resources
    • ANNUAL CONFERENCE
      • AMERICAN HORSE COUNCIL 2023 CONFERENCE
      • AMERICAN HORSE COUNCIL 2022 CONFERENCE
      • AMERICAN HORSE COUNCIL 2021 CONFERENCE
      • AMERICAN HORSE COUNCIL 2020 CONFERENCE
    • Horse Industry Directory
    • Webinars
    • Publications
    • Library and Resources
    • Economics
    • Tax Bulletins For Members
    • 2023 Economic Impact Study
    • Safe Sport
    • National Welfare Code
    • ELD, CDL and Transport Issues
    • Youth Resources
    • National Trails Directory
  • News
  • Calendar
  • CONTACT
    • Submit a question
    • Leave a comment or suggestion
  • Join
  • Search
  • Menu Menu
  • About Us
    • Leadership
      • Board Of Trustees
      • Governance
      • Staff
      • AHC Committees
    • Membership
      • FAQ’s
      • Become A Member
      • Sponsors
      • AHC Discount Programs
    • Annual Reports
    • Employment Opportunities
    • AHC Internships
  • Issues
    • Legislation
    • Regulations
    • Take Action
      • Congressional Scorecard
  • ELECTION CENTER
    • Get Involved
    • Vote Early!
    • Congressional Scorecard
    • Political Action Committee
    • Legislative Process and How A Law is Enacted
  • AHC Programs
    • AHC Foundation
    • United Horse Coalition
    • Marketing Alliance
    • Equine Disease Communication Center
    • American Horse Council Microchip Look-Up
    • Coalition of State Horse Council
    • DEI – Diversity Equity Inclusion
    • Equine Industry Executive Forum
  • Member Portal
  • Resources
    • ANNUAL CONFERENCE
      • AMERICAN HORSE COUNCIL 2023 CONFERENCE
      • AMERICAN HORSE COUNCIL 2022 CONFERENCE
      • AMERICAN HORSE COUNCIL 2021 CONFERENCE
      • AMERICAN HORSE COUNCIL 2020 CONFERENCE
    • Horse Industry Directory
    • Webinars
    • Publications
    • Library and Resources
    • Economics
    • Tax Bulletins For Members
    • 2023 Economic Impact Study
    • Safe Sport
    • National Welfare Code
    • ELD, CDL and Transport Issues
    • Youth Resources
    • National Trails Directory
  • News
  • Calendar
  • CONTACT
    • Submit a question
    • Leave a comment or suggestion
  • Join
  • H-2B Reform Bill Introduced

H-2B REFORM BILL INTRODUCED

On October 29, 2015 Senators Thom Tillis (R-NC), Barbara Mikulski (D-MD), Mark Warner (D-VA), and Bill Cassidy (R-LA) introduced the Save our Small and Seasonal Businesses Act of 2015. The bill would make many needed reforms to the H-2B temporary, non-agricultural worker program that will make it less burdensome for employers, including those in the horse industry to use.

The H-2B program is used by members of the horse industry, principally horse trainers and owners who cannot find American workers to fill semi-skilled jobs at racetracks, horse shows, fairs and in similar non-agricultural activities. However, On April 29, 2015, the Department Homeland Security (DHS) and Department Labor (DOL) issued a final interim H-2B temporary guest worker program rule and a final wage rule. These rules have made the H-2B program even more costly and burdensome for employers who are forced to use the program. These rules were opposed by the American Horse Council and other industries that rely on the H-2B program.

Save our Small and Seasonal Businesses Act of 2015

The bill would make several important reforms to the H-2B program and roll back some of the most burdensome provisions of the 2015 H-2B rule. It also would exempt returning workers from counting against the 66,000 annual visa cap. Specifically, the bill would do the following:

Create an H-2B returning worker exemption;

    • Require wages to be based on the job category and experience level required, rather than an artificially inflated the median wage;
    • Allow the use of private wage surveys;
    • Return the H-2B program to an attestation based process rather than a time consuming and costly verification based process;
    • Specify that H-2B employers do not need to provide housing to their workers, allow for payroll deductions for housing in accordance with the Fair Labors Standards Act;
    • Specify that for H-2B workers, full time is considered 30 or more hours per week and seasonal need is 10 months;
    • Require employers to reimburse H-2B workers for their transportation costs from the consulate or previous worksite to the place of employment after the H-2B worker completes at least 50% of the work contract, as well as require the employer to pay return transportation costs to the consulate or new worksite;
    • Allows for staggered crossing of H-2B workers;
    • Allow for the replacement of an H-2B worker who leaves the job before the completion of the job term;

Provides for conditional approval for H-2B workers by DHS once the cap is met so that visas may be issued in the order approved if cap numbers become available;

  • Require DHS to publicly post on a website the cap count, the annual number of target beneficiaries, the cap count methodology it is using, number of H-2B visa petitions approved and received during the past five years’ and other items;
  • Require the Government Accountability Office to conduct a study on the DHS cap count methodology and its accuracy; and
  • Specify that DHS has exclusive authority to issue H-2B rules and final determinations.

 

Improvements to the H-2B program have been a priority of the horse industry for many years. The difficulty horse farms, horse shows, trainers and others have had recruiting American workers has forced many to use the H-2B program to meet their labor needs, even though it is costly, time consuming and unreliable.
This bill would overhaul the H-2B program and fix some of problems that have plagued the program while maintaining protections for both American and H-2B workers.

The American Horse Council supports this important legislation and urges members of the horse industry to contact their Senators to voice support for the bill.

  • Recent Posts

    • AHC Annual Award Nominations are now open!
    • Ovation Protégé Helmet Recall Notice
    • 2023 – Call for Horse Industry Directory Listings
    • Hay Shortages, Prices & Spoilage putting strain on Horse Owners wallets
    • It’s the most wonderful time of the Year. To Give the gift of securing your horse passion this holiday season!
  • Archives

  • The American Horse Council is a Guidestar Silver Participant

    The AHC believes that the more opportunities available to use horses in various activities, the better the overall health of the industry and those who participate.


    1775 Tysons Blvd
    5th Floor
    Suite 6110
    McLean VA, 22102
    General Phone: 202.296.4031
    E-Mail: info@horsecouncil.org

    About Us

    • Membership
    • Board Of Trustees
    • AHC Internships
    • AHC Programs
    • AHC Membership Directory
    • Annual Reports

    Issues

    • Legislation
    • Regulations
    • Take Action

    Resources

    • Webinars
    • Publications
    • ELD, CDL and Transport Issues
    • Library and Resources
    • National Welfare Code
    • Economics
    • National Equine Health Plan
    • Safe Sports

    NEWS

    • Washington Updates
    • Press Releases
    • Archives
    • Calendar
    • Contact Us

    © Copyright - American Horse Council
    Scroll to top

    Lynda is the membership and communications specialist for the American Horse Council. Lynda grew up in Pasadena, Maryland with a passion for horses. She relocated to San Diego, California, where her dream of owning and riding horses came true. Lynda has worked with several law enforcement mounted units and has participated in several national and international horse associations.

    Lynda believes horses play a major role in our society from therapy horses helping children learn to walk again, to helping military veterans and emergency service personnel learn to cope with stress, to keeping our parks and cities safe through law enforcement mounted units. Along with our equine partners assisting in burial services at Arlington National Cemetery. Horses impact our lives in ways others cannot.

    Lynda believes the horse industry as a whole needs to have a voice and working at the American Horse Council is a way for her to help and keep the industry alive and informed.

    Interested in a Free Microchip for your Horse?

    The United Horse Coalition is offering up to 5 free microchips (while supplies last). Click below for more info on how to get your free chip.

    Click here for more info (don’t worry, we made it easy!)
    Login to your Dashboard
    Lost your password?
    • Lost your password?

    Cliff Williamson is the Director of Health and Regulatory Affairs for the American Horse Council based in Washington D.C.

    He grew up in Reva, VA on his family’s horse farm, participating in both horse and livestock 4-H activities. In 2008 he graduated from Virginia Tech with a degree in Animal Science, where he was an active member of both the animal science club Block & Bridle as well as the agricultural fraternity Alpha Gamma Rho. After graduation he spent 27 months in Nicaragua with the Peace Corps for their Food Security Program. Upon his return to the United States he spent four years in the animal export industry as the Director of Animal Logistics for T.K. Exports, Inc. In that time he was honored to be appointed to a seat on the Board of Directors for the Culpeper chapter of the Farm Bureau Federation.

    For information regarding any equine health issues, welfare issues, and state, federal and international requirements regarding the movement of horses, please contact Cliff. 

    cwilliamson@horsecouncil.org

    Bryan Brendle is the Director of Policy & Legislative Affairs for the AHC.

    For information regarding public policy, government relations and advocacy, please contact Bryan.

    bbrendle@horsecouncil.org

    With over 30 years of leadership experience in both for-profit and non-profit sectors, Julie holds a BS, MBA, Executive Certificate in Non-Profit Leadership  and is Certified Association Executive®. She’s a life-long horse enthusiast ranging from recreational rider, breeder, and show competitor. A native of NC, she and her husband now reside in DC along with their Pembroke Welsh Corgis and Morgan horses.

    In her down time she enjoys volunteering (she’s president of the board of PATH International), horseback riding, gardening and cooking. “I’m passionate about the equine industry because horses have enhanced my life and well-being so profoundly,” said Julie. “Working at the AHC is a way to give back to the equine community and ensure the long term health of the industry.”

    jbroadway@horsecouncil.org

    X