WASHINGTON OFFICE: 2304 RAYBURN HOUSE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON, DC 20515 (202) 225-8605 KENNY MARCHANT • 24TH DISTRICT, TEXAS COMMITTEE ON WAYS AND MEANS COMMITTEE ON ETHICS Congreggi of the liniteb Otetteci Thoutie of Reprefientatibui DISTRICT OFFICE: 9901 EAST VALLEY RANCH PARKWAY SUITE 2080 161,4N6, TX 75063 (972) 556-016ip r-, asSbington, ?DC 20515-4324 February 14, 2020 The Honorable Eugene Scalia Secretary of Labor 200 Constitution Ave NW Washington, D.C. 20210 The Honorable Chad Wolf Acting Secretary of Homeland Security 245 Murray Lane SW Washington, D.C. 20528 Dear Secretary Scalia and Acting Secretary WolfSeveral constituents have contacted me regarding the status of the implementation of the Fiscal Year 2020 DHS appropriations bill and the potential release of additional H28 visas. These employers in my district are honest taxpayers who are working diligently to meet their obligations. These employers have represented to me that they believe they could be forced to default on contracts, lay off dedicated full-time U.S. workers, cancel orders with their U.S. vendors and, in the worst-case scenario, close their businesses. It is my understanding that the Department of Homeland Security has the ability to continue to process H-2B visa applications, in a rolling fashion, up until the new cap is met. Employers in my district who have contacted me said previously they were required to retest the labor market because of the gap in time between the original labor certification and the release of additional visas. These constituent employers have raised concerns that this year the process is not satisfactory. I consistently advocate for strong, legal, and enforceable immigration laws and I fear that a system of legal-immigration with too many inconsistencies will do nothing but incentivize illegal-immigration. Will you please respond with information on the implementation of the FY20 DHS funding bill as it relates to the H-2B visa program and provide me with the number of visas that the Departments intend to process for this labor year? PRINTED ON RECYCLED PAPER Thank you for your attention to these matters. I look forward to your reply and sharing the information with my constituency. Should you have any additional questions, please feel free to contact my office or my Legislative Director, (b)(6) (b)(6) Sincere v. / Kenny Marchant U.S. Congressman 24th District of Texas