Seasonal Worker Solidarity Act of 2022

Hozzl · 2022-12-29T23:18:23Z

Explore the details of House Bill 7549 Seasonal Worker Solidarity Act of 2022 currently in Congress. Get insights into its purpose, current status, sponsors, and potential impact on Immigration. Stay informed on legislative developments.

12/29/2022, 11:18 PM

Summary of Bill HR 7549

Bill 117 HR 7549, also known as the Seasonal Worker Solidarity Act of 2022, aims to address the challenges faced by seasonal workers in the United States. The bill recognizes the important contributions that seasonal workers make to various industries, such as agriculture, tourism, and hospitality.

One of the key provisions of the bill is the establishment of a task force to study the working conditions and rights of seasonal workers. This task force will be responsible for conducting research, gathering data, and making recommendations to improve the treatment of seasonal workers.

Additionally, the Seasonal Worker Solidarity Act of 2022 includes measures to protect the rights of seasonal workers, such as ensuring fair wages, safe working conditions, and access to benefits. The bill also seeks to address issues related to housing, transportation, and healthcare for seasonal workers. Overall, the Seasonal Worker Solidarity Act of 2022 aims to promote solidarity and support for seasonal workers in the United States. By recognizing the important role that these workers play in the economy and ensuring their rights are protected, the bill seeks to create a more equitable and just system for all workers.

Congressional Summary of HR 7549

Seasonal Worker Solidarity Act of 2022

This bill modifies the H-2B (temporary nonagricultural workers) visa program and expands protections for aliens who report workplace violations.

Changes to the H-2B program include

requiring the Department of Labor to establish a centralized national electronic platform for U.S. workers to find and apply for positions that employers are seeking to fill with H-2B workers;
requiring employers to recruit U.S. workers nationwide, including by posting the openings on the platform, before applying for H-2B visas;
requiring employers to guarantee at least 40 hours of paid work per week for each H-2B worker (currently employers may guarantee fewer paid hours in certain instances);
requiring employers to pay for housing for H-2B workers and transportation to and from the work site (currently employers are allowed to deduct fees for lodgings from an H-2B worker's pay);
modifying the requirements for determining the minimum wage for H-2B workers; and
prioritizing H-2B visas for certain employers, such as those that pay higher wages.

Furthermore, an alien who has worked a certain amount of time as an H-2B worker may obtain permanent resident status, subject to various requirements.

In addition, an alien who is likely helpful in an investigation of a workplace claim (i.e., an alleged violation of law or workplace-related injury) may qualify for a U visa for victims of criminal activity. The bill also removes statutory numerical limitations on U visas.

The bill also provides protections for certain aliens who file or assist in the investigation of workplace claims.

Read the Full Bill

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Current Status of Bill HR 7549

Bill HR 7549 is currently in the status of Bill Introduced since April 21, 2022. Bill HR 7549 was introduced during Congress 117 and was introduced to the House on April 21, 2022. Bill HR 7549's most recent activity was Referred to the Subcommittee on Immigration and Citizenship. as of November 1, 2022