House Proceeding 03-04-09 on Mar 4th, 2009 :: 1:17:55 to 1:20:25
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1:17:51 to 1:18:11( Edit History Discussion )

Bart Stupak: bill re-authorizes two worthy immigration programs, i urge my colleagues to sport this. i reserve the balance of my time. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman reserves the balance of his time. the gentlelady from california. ms. lofgren: i yield now to the gentleman from michigan, mr. stupak, two minutes. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman is recognized. mr. stupak: thank you, mr. speaker. i thank the gentlewoman for

1:17:55 to 1:20:25( Edit History Discussion )
Speech By: Bart Stupak

1:18:12 to 1:18:33( Edit History Discussion )

Bart Stupak: yielding to me. i regret that i must stand in opposition to allowing immigration extensions or reforms without addressing a temporary extension of the h-2-b returning worker program. the h-2-b visa program was created to provide access to nonimmigrant temporary workers for seasonal and peak load needs when no american workers can be found.

1:18:34 to 1:18:54( Edit History Discussion )

Bart Stupak: foreign workersffer small and seasonal businesses short-term help and return to their home country at the end of the season. h-2-b visas are capped at 66,000 visas per year. even with 66,000, it does not meet the labor needs of seasonal businesses. to help fill these needs, congress established the h-2-b returning worker program in

1:18:55 to 1:19:15( Edit History Discussion )

Bart Stupak: 2005. this program exempts returning workers who have received an h-2-b visa in one of three previous fiscal years from counting against a 66,00 cap. however, this exemption expired on september 30, 2007. in the 110th congress this exemption had the support of

1:19:16 to 1:19:37( Edit History Discussion )

Bart Stupak: 158 bipartisan members of congress, 88 members and 70 republicans. and 111 congress the bill was just introduced. we already have the support of 32 democrats and 23 republicans. as of january 7, the u.s. citizenship and immigration service has already received enough visa petitions to exceed the cap for h-2-b visas for the second half of this fiscal

1:19:38 to 1:19:58( Edit History Discussion )

Bart Stupak: year. this demand highlights the immediate need for congress to extend the h-2-b visa returning worker program to help small and seasonal businesses fill their seasonal labor needs and keep full-time americans and businesses working. these returning workers have provided relief to small businesses throughout the

1:19:59 to 1:20:21( Edit History Discussion )

Bart Stupak: nation, covering a broad spectrum of industries like landscapers, tourism, restaurants, hotels, seafood processors. h-2-b workers offer short-term help. they cannot and do not stay in the united states. more importantly the h-2-b program contains strong provisions to ensure american woers have the first chance to work. without an extension of returning worker program, small

1:20:22 to 1:20:26( Edit History Discussion )

Bart Stupak: and seasonal businesses will face significant labor shortages this year as they did last year.