LIZ CHENEY COMMITTEES WYOMING AT-LARGE ARMED SERVICES COMMITTEE CHAIR, HOUSE REPUBLICAN CONFERENCE NATURAL RESOURCES COMMITTEE Congrefit of tbe Einiteb btateo ji)ottOe of RepreSentatibtO Eilastington, 31Ete 20515-5000 RECEIVED By ESEC at 2:55 pm, Feb 12, 2020 January 29, 2020 The Honorable Chad F. Wolf Acting Secretary of Homeland Security U.S. Department of Homeland Security 3801 Nebraska Avenue, NW Washington, DC 20528 Dear Acting Secretary Wolf: I write on behalf of businesses in the great state of Wyoming who rely on the H-2B visa program to fill critical seasonal positions. Thriving Wyoming industries such as tourism and hospitality, landscaping, golf courses, and ski resorts continue to struggle with seasonal labor shortages that are made worse by the current H-2B visa cap. Under the "Further Consolidated Appropriations, 2020", the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), in consultation with Secretary of the Department of Labor, is authorized to provide expeditious H-2B cap relief for our local businesses' upcoming seasonal labor needs. These businesses are a staple in Wyoming's economy, and all depend on seasonal employment to meet the demands of the market. Without significant H-2B cap relief, seasonal businesses will be forced to scale back operations, cancel or default on contracts, lay off full-time U.S. workers and, in some cases, close operations completely. By acting to make additional H-2B visas available, seasonal businesses and workers across Wyoming will avoid these harmful consequences, and instead, help contribute to and strengthen the American economy. A substantial number of applications have already been submitted for the limited number of spots, which is why I respectfully ask if you would consider making all the 64,716 visas available for FY20. The lack of H-2B workers is an issue I continue to hear about daily from my constituents, because it jeopardizes the survival of small and seasonal business across Wyoming and puts American workers at risk of losing their jobs. H-2B workers provide an opportunity for US businesses to operate at a greater capacity that meets the demands of their services, as well as contribute to their local economies. Seasonal workers are estimated to create and sustain 4.64 million American jobs. I thank you in advance for your attention to this pressing matter. Sincerely, Liz Che Member Congress WASHINGTON. DC OFFICE 416 CANNON HOUSE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON, DC 20515 PHONE: (202) 225-2311 CHEYENNE OFFICE 2120 CAPITOL AVENUE SUITE 8005 CHEYENNE, WY 82001 PHONE: (307) 772-2595 CASPER OFFICE PO Box 44003 100 EAST B STREET Room 4003 CASPER, WY 82602 PHONE: (307) 261-6595 PRINTED ON RECYCLED PAPER RIVERTON OFFICE 325 WEST MAIN STREET UNIT 8 RIVERTON, WY 82501 PHONE: (307) 463-0482 GILLETTE OFFICE 300 SOUTH GILLETTE AVENUE SUITE 2001 GILLETTE, WY 82716 PHONE: (307) 414-1677