This week I joined Congressman Chris Pappas (D-NH) and Congressman David Valadao (R-CA), to lead a bipartisan effort including 49 of our colleagues to urge the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to reconsider a proposed rule that would detrimentally increase the fees charged to small and seasonal businesses who rely upon the H-2A and H-2B programs to hire workers and increase the processing times for these visas. This new rule would impact Idahoans who rely on seasonal workers by instituting a $600 Asylum Program Fee on every petition and by increasing the processing times from 15-calendar days to 15-business days. 

Employers who rely on the H-2B and H-2A non-immigrant visa programs do so because they cannot hire U.S. workers to fill the needed positions. They turn to these programs to ensure they have the workforce needed to operate their business and contribute to our communities. These programs are a last resort to going out of business or curtailing expansion.

The federal government should do whatever it can to support small and seasonal U.S. businesses. The proposed rule changes are unacceptable in their current state as they only bring additional expenses without providing any additional support.

Statement on WOTUS Resolution to Override Biden Veto

This Week in Washington

I appreciated the opportunity to meet with the Idaho Consumer-owned Utilities Association and discuss grid reliability, how supply chains impact their industry, and the need for permitting reform. Thanks for visiting!

The Northwest Portland Area Indian Health Board is a non-profit tribal advisory organization serving the forty-three federally recognized tribes of Oregon, Washington, and Idaho. I appreciated a discussion on their legislative priorities for the Indian Health Services.

Board members from the Eastern Idaho Family Down Syndrome Connect visited with my staff on their first visit to Washington to discuss their legislative priorities. They do important work for many families in Idaho and I am grateful for their visit.