A House subcommittee approves returning worker exemption for the H-2B visa program
A subcommittee of the House Appropriations Committee approved its version of the fiscal year 2025 Department of Homeland Security appropriations bill, which includes a returning worker exemption for the H-2B seasonal visa program. NRCA supports this provision, which will give the department the authority to exempt H-2B workers who return to the same employer where they were employed during the past three years from the annual statutory cap of 66,000 H-2B visas for the 2025 season. If retained in the final version of the bill, the exemption will significantly increase the number of H-2B visas allowed for 2025 and expand opportunities for NRCA members to address peak workforce needs. This legislation will continue to be considered by the House during the coming weeks and must also be taken up by the Senate. NRCA will continue working in support of maximizing the number of visas available for the H-2B seasonal visa program.
Support ROOFPAC at NRCA’s Midyear Committee Meetings in Chicago!
Join your friends and colleagues for a fun cocktail reception in support of ROOFPAC Wednesday, July 17, from 5:30-7 p.m. at Gibsons Bar & Steakhouse ($150 per person/$225 per couple). Members of NRCA’s Political Insiders Council and Capitol Hill Club are invited to attend complimentary as a benefit of their membership. We also would like to thank our sponsoring partner Johns Manville for making this event possible.
To RSVP or for more information, please visit nrca.net/roofpac-midyear-event. Questions? Contact NRCA Director of Political Affairs Teri Dorn at tdorn@ncra.net or (202) 510-0920.
Department of Commerce launches CHIPS Women in Construction Framework
On May 2, Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo announced the CHIPS Women in Construction Framework, which is part of the ongoing Million Women in Construction initiative that seeks to expand the U.S. construction workforce by doubling the number of women participants during the next decade.
The framework outlines five recruitment and retention best practices, which will help support on-time and successful completion of CHIPS program-funded projects. The best practices aim to help companies increase participation of women in the construction industry and include efforts to:
- Set goals and monitor progress toward increasing the participation of women on CHIPS-funded construction projects
- Build partnerships with community organizations with a track record of increasing women and economically disadvantaged individuals’ exposure to and recruitment into the construction industry
- Develop training pathways such as training investments, apprentice utilization goals or apprentice readiness program partnerships that serve women and economically disadvantaged individuals
- Provide access to supportive services, such as child care or transportation, that will increase retention of women and economically disadvantaged individuals in the workforce
- Maintain healthy, safe and respectful workplaces and prevent and address harassment, discrimination, retaliation and violence through workplace training, policy and practice
Sen. Manchin leaves Democratic party, registers as an Independent
Sen. Joe Manchin of West Virginia recently announced he will change his registration to an Independent after serving nearly fourteen years as a Democrat. Manchin announced previously he will not seek re-election this year. He said this change served to highlight his commitment to bipartisanship and serving his country over his party. However, he plans to continue to caucus as a Democrat, so there will be no effect on committee assignments or leadership in the Senate.
