ROBERT J. WITTMAN WASHINGTON OFFICE 1ST DISTRICT, VIRGINIA 2055 RAYBURN HOUSE OFFICE BIMINI* WASHINGTON, DC 20515 (202) 225-4261 HOUSE ARMED SERVICES COMMITTEE RAN/C.114.3 MEMBER, SEAPOWER AND PROJECTION FORCE" TACTICAL AIR AND LAND FORCES NATURAL RESOURCES COMMITTEE WATER, OCEANS, AIM WILDLIFE CO-CHAIR, CONGRESSIONAL SHIPBUILDING CAUCUS DISTRICT OFFICES: ttittr (gongress of tile House af Illevregenbtittes Tia 20515 CO-CHAIR, CONGRESSIONAL CHESAPEAKE BAY WATERSHED TASK FORCE CO-CHAIR, CONGRESSIONAL PUBLIC HEALTH CAUCUS thtts January 16, 2020 CO-CHAIR, CONGRESSIONAL RURAL BROADBAND CAUCUS STAFFCRD OFFICE 95 DUNN DRPIE Suns 201 STAFFORD, VA 22556 (540) 659-2734 MECHANICSVILLE OFFICE 6501 MECHANICSVILLE TURNPIKE SUITE 102 MECHANICSVILLE, VA 23111 (804) 730-6595 MIDDLE PENINSULA OFFICE 508 CHURCH LANE P.O. Box 3106 TAPPAHANNOCK, VA 22560 (804)443-0668 WAW.WITTAIAN.HOUSE.GOV The Honorable Chad F. Wolf Acting Secretary of Homeland Security U.S. Department of Homeland Security 3801 Nebraska Avenue, NW Washington, DC 20528 RECEIVED By ESEC at 8:03 am. Jan 21. 2020 Dear Acting Secretary Wolf: I am writing to bring to your attention an important issue facing Virginia small businesses. Several seasonal industries including, seafood, landscape, hotel and tourism currently rely on temporary H-2B workers to supplement the local workforce. Unfortunately, without timely and meaningful H-2B visa cap relief by the Department of Homeland Security, seasonal businesses will have to reduce operations, loose contracts, lay off full-time U.S. employees and, even in some cases close their doors permanently. Specifically, as it pertains to seafood in Virginia, without seasonal labor, businesses in rural areas run the risk of not being able to process baitfish, crabs and oysters this season. Hundreds of million in revenue and thousands of local Virginia jobs---managers, supervisors, truck drivers and office personnel—rely on a working H-2B system. I urge you to use the authority authorized in the recently passed FY2020 Further Consolidated Appropriations bill to release additional visas as soon as possible to meet the demand and avoid significant business losses to these critical industries. Thank you for your attention to this timely matter. Since Ro e e e an cc: Acting Director Ken Cuccinelli, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services PR/NTED ON RECYCLED PAPER