On the recordMay 21, 2015
Mr. President, I wish to speak briefly on an amendment I have filed regarding a crisis we are experiencing in the H-2B visas. In North Carolina, we have a very large seafood industry, and we have a crisis that is shared by a number of other States that have the seafood industry with respect to the availability of H-2B visas, and the busy time is just about to start in a couple of weeks. It is the worst possible time for this industry. We literally have jobs that have been created by people such as Don Cross and his brother and their Pamlico Packing Company in Grantsboro, NC. They simply can't find workers to do this job. It is going to ruin their business, and it is unacceptable. These are jobs these folks have created, like the Crosses, and they can't be filled. The jobs are waiting to be filled. It is affecting other businesses we have in the shrimp and crab industries, but it is also affecting other businesses--will affect other businesses--such as grocery stores, restaurants, and other industries, like tourism, across the country. The problem I have--and the nature of the amendment I will speak to briefly--but I have reached out to the Department of Homeland Security to ask a series of questions, and I simply haven't received answers. That is why I decided to offer an amendment--or to file the amendment. DHS has refused to issue more work visas, even though the statutory cap of used visas has most likely not been reached.…





