H-2B provides a vital lifeline for golf facilities that have exhausted all efforts to hire American workers for their seasonal positions.  GCSAA has consistently argued that the program’s congressionally mandated cap of 66,000 (33,000 for each half of the fiscal year) is woefully inadequate to meet golf’s needs in this strong economy.  And the latest news from the Department of Labor illustrates that this will continue in 2019, unless Congress and the Administration acts soon.  Employers requested a record 97,800 workers for an April 1^st start date under the iCERT online filing system.  That’s almost three times as many visas available for that date.  In fact, it’s more than what is available for the entire year.  Demand was so strong that the iCERT system crashed right after midnight on January 1^st, temporarily preventing H-2B filing for the second half of the fiscal year. 

Superintendents have repeatedly told us they need 1) access to more H-2B workers and 2) greater certainty with the program in order to help meet customer demand.  That’s why GCSAA joined other users of the program in negotiating compromise legislation in the last Congress that would permanently double the H-2B cap as well as provide other safeguards for the long-term viability of the program.  Unfortunately, that legislation did not reach the President’s desk.  However as the 116^th Congress begins, Bob Helland and our Government Affairs team have been working with many of our allies in Washington on this issue to keep this issue front and center.  Congress still has to pass a final budget for the 2019 Fiscal Year.  When it does, we’ll be working hard to see it includes some form of cap relief.    Please continue to provide your voice so Congress knows how important H-2B is to golf.    

Requested Actions: 

1. Please call your Representative and two Senators and ask them to: 1) urge DOL to immediately fix the iCERT system and resume H-2B processing; and 2) pass immediate H-2B cap relief to ensure that you have access to needed seasonal labor this spring and summer. You can reach your elected officials through the Capitol Switchboard at 202-225-3121. Once connected to your Representative or Senator's office ask to speak to the person who handles H-2B issues. Please make these calls today! 

1. Please click on the link below to send a letter to your Representative and two Senators urging immediate cap relief and an immediate resumption of H-2B filing. Please also share this link with your colleagues and encourage them to respond. 

 Click here to Send letters to your Representative and Senators 

1. Tweet at your Senators and Representative using#SaveH2B. You can find their twitter addresses at: twitter.com/verified/lists/us-congress/members. Some sample tweets are below.

• H-2B filing system crashed due to overwhelming need.  Pass H-2B cap relief now. #saveH2Band save American jobs.
• H-2B Cap Hit! Pass cap relief now!#saveH2B
• Save American jobs.  Pass H-2B cap relief now!#saveH2B
• The H-2B program relies on workers who come to the U.S. for seasonal work, then go home.  #saveH2B
• Every H-2B worker creates and sustains 4.64 American jobs. Pass H-2B cap relief now!#saveH2B
• #saveH2Band save American Jobs! Pass H-2B cap relief now!
• H-2B program = more American jobs. Pass H-2B cap relief now.#saveH2B
• H-2B workers support American jobs. Pass H-2B cap relief now!#saveH2B
• Save the spring and summer. Pass H-2B cap relief now!  #saveH2B