Legis Daily

Workforce for an Expanding Economy Act

USA117th CongressHR-4288| House 
| Updated: 11/1/2022
Lloyd Smucker

Lloyd Smucker

Republican Representative

Pennsylvania

Cosponsors (1)
Carolyn Bourdeaux (Democratic)

Ways and Means Committee, Judiciary Committee, Oversight and Government Reform Committee, Immigration Integrity, Security, and Enforcement Subcommittee

  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted
Workforce for an Expanding Economy Act This bill establishes a new nonimmigrant visa for temporary nonagricultural workers (H-2C visa) to fill jobs that have remained open for a certain amount of time and are located in an area where the unemployment rate is 4.9% or less. This visa shall only be available for certain occupations, and those requiring a bachelor's degree or higher level of education shall not be eligible. The bill imposes various requirements related to H-2C positions, such as requiring that the employer make certain efforts to recruit a U.S. worker beforehand. The employer must register the opening before filling it with an H-2C worker, and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) shall maintain a publicly available registry of registered positions. For the first fiscal year after the bill's enactment, no more than 65,000 positions may be registered. For subsequent fiscal years, the number shall be increased or decreased depending on how many positions were registered the previous year and how quickly the allotment was filled. A certain number of allocations shall be reserved for small businesses. An employer seeking to hire H-2C workers shall register with DHS and provide documentation establishing that the employer meets various qualifications. An employer may become ineligible for registration for certain actions, such as having been penalized for a pattern of willful violation of wage and hour laws. H-2C workers shall not be entitled to certain federal public benefits. The Bureau of the Census shall report to Congress on the impact of the H-2C program.
View Full Text

Suggested Questions

Get AI-generated questions to help you understand this bill better

Timeline

Bill from Previous Congress

HR 116-1740
Workforce for an Expanding Economy Act
Jun 30, 2021
Introduced in House
Jun 30, 2021
Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committees on Ways and Means, and Oversight and Reform, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Nov 1, 2022
Referred to the Subcommittee on Immigration and Citizenship.
  • Bill from Previous Congress

    HR 116-1740
    Workforce for an Expanding Economy Act


  • June 30, 2021
    Introduced in House


  • June 30, 2021
    Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committees on Ways and Means, and Oversight and Reform, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.


  • November 1, 2022
    Referred to the Subcommittee on Immigration and Citizenship.

Immigration

Related Bills

  • HR 117-7239: Essential Workers for Economic Advancement Act
Employee hiringForeign laborImmigration status and proceduresSmall businessVisas and passports

Workforce for an Expanding Economy Act

USA117th CongressHR-4288| House 
| Updated: 11/1/2022
Workforce for an Expanding Economy Act This bill establishes a new nonimmigrant visa for temporary nonagricultural workers (H-2C visa) to fill jobs that have remained open for a certain amount of time and are located in an area where the unemployment rate is 4.9% or less. This visa shall only be available for certain occupations, and those requiring a bachelor's degree or higher level of education shall not be eligible. The bill imposes various requirements related to H-2C positions, such as requiring that the employer make certain efforts to recruit a U.S. worker beforehand. The employer must register the opening before filling it with an H-2C worker, and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) shall maintain a publicly available registry of registered positions. For the first fiscal year after the bill's enactment, no more than 65,000 positions may be registered. For subsequent fiscal years, the number shall be increased or decreased depending on how many positions were registered the previous year and how quickly the allotment was filled. A certain number of allocations shall be reserved for small businesses. An employer seeking to hire H-2C workers shall register with DHS and provide documentation establishing that the employer meets various qualifications. An employer may become ineligible for registration for certain actions, such as having been penalized for a pattern of willful violation of wage and hour laws. H-2C workers shall not be entitled to certain federal public benefits. The Bureau of the Census shall report to Congress on the impact of the H-2C program.
View Full Text

Suggested Questions

Get AI-generated questions to help you understand this bill better

Timeline

Bill from Previous Congress

HR 116-1740
Workforce for an Expanding Economy Act
Jun 30, 2021
Introduced in House
Jun 30, 2021
Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committees on Ways and Means, and Oversight and Reform, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Nov 1, 2022
Referred to the Subcommittee on Immigration and Citizenship.
  • Bill from Previous Congress

    HR 116-1740
    Workforce for an Expanding Economy Act


  • June 30, 2021
    Introduced in House


  • June 30, 2021
    Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committees on Ways and Means, and Oversight and Reform, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.


  • November 1, 2022
    Referred to the Subcommittee on Immigration and Citizenship.
Lloyd Smucker

Lloyd Smucker

Republican Representative

Pennsylvania

Cosponsors (1)
Carolyn Bourdeaux (Democratic)

Ways and Means Committee, Judiciary Committee, Oversight and Government Reform Committee, Immigration Integrity, Security, and Enforcement Subcommittee

Immigration

Related Bills

  • HR 117-7239: Essential Workers for Economic Advancement Act
  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted
Employee hiringForeign laborImmigration status and proceduresSmall businessVisas and passports