Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association
Posted: Dec. 4, 2016
To all trainers, owners, farm owners/managers, industry stakeholders and regulators:
Racing’s workforce is in jeopardy once again and we need your help.
This week, the lame-duck session of Congress is expected to end and the H2B Visa Program, which protects our businesses by providing access to legal temporary workers, particularly during our race meets, is in jeopardy if not reinstated. Our workforce could be crippled if Congress does not reinstate the program by March 2017.
The Returning Worker Exemption allows our temporary migrant work force to be in the U.S. legally for 10 months a year, return to their home country for two, and then come back to work at our racetracks, training facilities and farms. We can’t over-emphasize enough that those who hold H-2B visas are in this country legally. As we know, these are jobs that otherwise would go unfilled.
We all need to contact Congressional leadership and express our industry’s concern. Here’s how you can help:
If you are on Twitter, tweet #saveH2B to @SenateMajLdr and @RepHalRogers and others in Congress with the following message: “Include returning worker exemption to H-2B program in CR—critical horse racing and agricultural industry jobs are at stake!” Another to tag is @HouseAppropsGOP,
On Dec. 5, call Sen. Mitch McConnell at (202) 224-2541 and Rep. Hal Rogers at (202)225-4601 in Washington, D.C. Once connected to the office, ask to speak to the person who handles H-2B issues. Tell them Congress must understand that a failure to reinstate the H-2B returning worker exemption before March of next year will hurt the horse racing and agriculture industries and result in the loss of critical jobs.
Thank you for your help.