FAWA

H.R. 2, Secure the Border Act of 2023 H.R. 16, American Dream and Promise Act of 2023 H.R. 29, Border Safety and Security Act of 2023 H.R. 163, Security First Act H.R. 319, Legal Workforce Act H.R. 489, Expedited Removal Codification Act of 2023 H.R. 575, Moving H-2A to United States Department of Agriculture Act of 2023 H.R. 614, Commercial Fishing and Seafood Business Act of 2023 H.R. 672, Border Security Investment Act H.R. 815, Removing Extraneous Loopholes Insuring Every Veteran Emergency (RELIEVE) Act H.R. 1325/S. 255, Asylum Seeker Work Authorization Act of 2023 H.R. 1511, Renewing Immigration Provisions of the Immigration Act of 1929 H.R. 1535, Eliminating Backlogs Act of 2023 H.R. 1760, To extend the admission to Guam or the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands for certain nonimmigrant H-2B workers H.R. 1778, Better Agriculture Resources Now (BARN) Act H.R. 1787, To amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to provide nonimmigrant status to mobile entertainment workers, and for other purposes H.R. 2393, Combating Cartels on Social Media Act of 2023 H.R. 2758, Returning Worker Accountability Act of 2023 H.R. 2827/S. 1301, Partner with Korea Act H.R. 3308/S. 874, Farm Operations Support Act H.R. 3442/S. 1667, Protecting Children of Long-Term Visa Holders Act of 2023 H.R. 3516, Farmworker Access and Waiver Act H.R. 3599, DIGNITY Act H.R. 3734, Essential Workers for Economic Advancement Act H.R. 3808, To amend the Afghan Allies Protection Act of 2009 to authorize additional special immigrant visas, to require a strategy for efficient processing, and to establish designated senior special immigrant visa coordinating officials, and for other purposes H.R. 4048, Venezuelan Adjustment Act H.R. 4358, PHDs First Act H.R. 4367, Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act, 2024 H.R. 4448, Canadian Snowbird Visa Act H.R. 4627/S. 2327, Afghan Adjustment Act H.R. 4647, High-skilled Immigration Reform for Employment Act H.R. 4665, Department of State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Appropriations Act, 2024, including provisions related to amendment 133, to eliminate all funding for the Educational and Cultural Exchange programs account H.R. 4708, H-2 Improvements to Relieve Employers (HIRE) Act H.R. 4942 S. 665/, Conrad State 30 and Physician Access Reauthorization Act H.R. 5127, Visitor Visa Wait Time Reduction Act H.R. 5155, Temporary Family Visitation Act H.R. 5477/S. 2384, Keep STEM Talent Act of 2023 H.R. 5990, Border Enforcement, Security, and Trade (BEST) Facilitation Act of 2023 H.R. 6205, Healthcare Workforce Resilience Act H.R. 6363, Further Continuing Appropriations and Other Extensions Act, 2024 H.R. 6542, Immigration Visa Efficiency and Security Act of 2023 S. 156, Accountability Through Electronic Verification Act S. 207, Temporary Protected Status Reform and Integrity Act S. 243, A bill to require the Commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection to establish procedures for conducting maintenance projects at ports of entry at which the Office of Field Operations conducts certain enforcement and facilitation activities S. 255, Asylum Seeker Work Authorization Act of 2023 S. 365, Dream Act of 2023 S. 387, Canadian Snowbirds Act of 2023 S. 425, Secure and Protect Act of 2023 S. 505, Immigration Parole Reform Act of 2023 S. 979,H-1B and L-1 Visa Reform Act of 2023 S. 1253, Securing America's Ports of Entry Act of 2023 S. 1727, Safe Environment from Countries Under Repression and Emergency (SECURE) Act S. 1786, Afghan Allies Protection Act of 2023 S. 1926, A bill to amend the Caribbean Basin Economic Recovery Act to make Uruguay eligible for designation as a beneficiary country under that Act, to include Uruguay in the list of foreign states whose nationals are eligible for admission into the United States as E1 and E2 nonimmigrants if nationals of the United States are treated similarly by the Government of Uruguay, and to require a report on the eligibility of Uruguay for the visa waiver program, and for other purposes S. 2278, Border Enforcement, Security, and Trade (BEST) Facilitation Act of 2023 S. 2324, Ensuring American Security and Protecting Afghan Allies Act S. 2632, Visa Processing Improvement Act S. 2705, State Executive Authority for Seasonal Occupations Needing Additional Labor (SEASONAL) Act S. 2719, Directing Our Countrys Transfer Of Residency Slots (DOCTORS) Act S. 2785, Higher Wages for American Workers Act of 2023 S. 3013, A bill to permanently authorize the exemption of aliens working as fish processors from the numerical limitation on H-2B nonimmigrant visas S. 3187, Southern Border Transparency Act of 2023 S. 3211, Healthcare Workforce Resilience Act S. 3255, Temporary Family Visitation Act S. 3291, EAGLE Act of 2023 H.J. Res 59/S. J. Res. 25, Providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Department of Labor relating to "Adverse Effect Wage Rate Methodology for the Temporary Employment of H-2A Nonimmigrants in Non-Range Occupations in the United States" H. Res. 481, Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that BridgeUSA exchange programs are vital to the economy and national interests of the United States, and that Congress should prioritize robust support to ensure equitable opportunities for Americans and people from other countries Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, Employment and Training Administration and Wage and Hour Division, Department of Labor; Improving Protections for Workers in Temporary Agricultural Employment in the United States (88 Fed. Reg. 63,750-63,832, September 15, 2023) Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, Department of Homeland Security; Modernizing H-2 Program Requirements, Oversight, and Worker Protections (88 Fed. Reg. 65,040-65,108, September 20, 2023) Various issues relating to visa waiver program; H-1B Visa Program; H-1B registration rule; H-1B reform; H-2 Visa Program and temporary rule; H-2A Visa Program; H-4 rule; L-1 Visa Program; J-1 Bridge USA program; EB-5 Visa Program; E-Verify program; nonimmigrant workers in temporary or seasonal nonagricultural employment; Customs and Border Protection staffing at U.S. ports of entry; border security; immigration policy and reforms; guest worker programs; legalization concepts; visa reform; customs trade facilitation and enforcement; Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program; extension of temporary protected status (TPS) designations for El Salvador, Honduras, and Haiti; administrative-regulatory efforts related to public charge, notice to appear, H-4 & OPT; delays in H-4 and L-2 Status Extensions and Employment Authorization Documents (EADs); FY24 funding for Customs and Border Protection staffing; Office of Foreign Labor Certifications Planned Implementation of Form ETA-9089, Application for Permanent Employment Certification, into DOLs Foreign Labor Application Gateway (FLAG) System; high-skilled immigration; lesser skilled immigration; temporary agricultural guest workers; temporary non-agricultural guest workers; optional practical training program; asylum and refugee programs; size and administration of employment-based immigrant visa categories; size and administration of family-based immigrant visa categories; size and administration of employment-based nonimmigrant visa categories; expansion of the use of the E-Verify system; I-9 employment verification; interior enforcement; increased vetting of visa applicants; unfair immigration related employment practices; international travel; trusted traveler programs; biometric entry-exit; increasing the number of ICE officers, border patrol agents and Customs and Border Protection officers; aerial security enhancements; EB-5 Regional Center Program and the Implementation of the EB-5 Reform and Integrity Act of 2022, P.L. 117-103, Division BB; State Department policy extending consular interview waiver eligibility for various classifications of nonimmigrants; USCIS Fee Schedule; regulatory proposals that would restrict applicant eligibility for the H-1B program; regulatory proposals that would drastically change how prevailing wage levels are determined for the purposes of obtaining certain employment-based nonimmigrant and immigrant visas; proposals that would significantly change how cap-subject H-1B petitions will be chosen in the future; regulatory proposals that would change how the period of admission for student visa holders and exchange visa holders is determined; regulatory proposals that will temporarily raise the annual quota for H-2B visas; regulatory proposals reopening and expanding consular operations; recapturing unused immigrant visas from prior years; creating exemptions to the current immigrant visa caps; proposals that would expand consular interview waivers for prospective immigrant and nonimmigrant visa applicants abroad; proposals that would provide relief for Afghan refugees; reinstitution of stateside visa revalidation services; implementation of electronic visa foils in passports; consular service delays; USCIS processing delays; DOL processing delays; Visa relief for long term foreign national workers laid off by their employers while waiting for their green cards in the immigrant visa backlogs; improving wait times for CBP Processing at Ports of Entry; expanding and implementing new CBP preclearance facilities abroad; reforms to the use of parole authority; extending the validity period for employment authorization documents; instituting a second FY24 H-1B lottery to insure usage of all cap-subject H-1B visas; reforms to the State Departments Visa Bulletin; implementation of the new optional I-9 document verification procedures; expanded mandatory detention of unauthorized aliens in the U.S.; expansion of expulsion/removal authorities; changes to the legal standard for credible fear interviews for asylum applicants; modifying asylum eligibility requirements

Client expense: $19,080,000 · Firm income: Not reported

Government targets: Bureau of Citizenship & Immigration Services (BCIS), Executive Office of the President (EOP), HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Homeland Security, Dept of (DHS), Labor, Dept of (DOL), Office of Management & Budget (OMB), SENATE, State, Dept of (DOS), White House Office

Michigan Farm Bureau continues to advocate for a long-term solution to our agricultural workforce needs. We continue to communicate to Congress on the out-of-control growth in the Adverse Effect Wage Rate (AEWR) and challenges with the H-2A visa program. We are also concerned with a few recent rules from the Biden Administration and shared those concerns with Congress. Michigan Farm Bureau communicated with Congress in opposition to the Department of Labors rule regarding the Adverse Effect Wage Rate (AEWR) methodology for the Temporary Employment of H-2A Nonimmigrants (Employment and Training Administration, Department of Labor, Docket Number ETA-2021-0006). MFB is supporting a Congressional Resolution of Disapproval under the Congressional Review Act (CRA) in opposition to the final AEWR rule and is encouraging Members of Congress to support it. The rule neglects to account for the fact that farm job descriptions often include many different responsibilities not just one role as the rule assumes. H.J.Res. 59 and S.J.Res. 25. MFB is also supporting S. 874 and H.R. 3308, the Farm Operations Support Act. The bill would require that the AEWR that was in effect on December 1, 2022, remains the AEWR through December 21, 2023. MFB is also supporting H.R. 3516, a bill which would waive the visa interview requirement for returning H-2A guestworkers. MFB also communicated with Congress on the USCIS proposed rule to increase fees for the H-2A and H-2B visa programs. Specifically, USCIS proposes to raise filing fees for H-2A and H-2B petitions by 137% and 135%, respectively. In addition, USCIS proposes an additional $600 asylum fee per petition. Furthermore, by capping each petition at 25 workers, employers with a larger guest worker need, will incur these costs potentially multiple times over. MFB is very concerned with these proposed charges to farmers and has asked Congress to weigh in. MFB opposed H.R. 2 the Secure the Border Act of 2023 due to the bill containing mandatory E-verify. Farm Bureau cannot support mandatory E-verify unless it moves in tandem with legislation to improve the stability of our agricultural workforce. MFB also supported including language in the House Appropriations bill for FY2024 that would include an H-2B returning worker cap exemption. H-2B is an important guestworker program for agricultural processors and others that rely on seasonal workers. MFB also supported language in the House FY2024 DHS Appropriations bill that would have removed the seasonal requirement for the H-2A visa program.

Asked PA House Members to support and co-sponsor H.R.4708, the H-2 Improvements to Relieve Employers (HIRE) Act by Representatives Tony Gonzales (R-TX) and Henry Cuellar (D-TX). This bill would codify codify visa interview waiver authority for H-2 workers and extend the validity of a companys visa petitions and labor certifications. Asked PA House Members to support and co-sponsor H.R.3516, the Farmworker Access and Waiver Act (FAWA) by Representative Nancy Mace (R-SC-01). This bill would waive the interview requirement for returning H-2A visa workers who were previously approved. Expressed to PA House and Senate Members concerns over DHS' Notice of Proposed Rulemaking to increase fees for H-2B and H-2A non-immigrant visa programs and institutes a $600 Asylum Program Fee on every petition (Docket #: USCIS 2021-0010). Informed PA House and Senate Members that Farm Bureau has concerns about mandatory e-verify in H.R.2, the Secure the Border Act by Representative Mario Diaz-Balart (R-FL-26).

Client expense: $20,000 · Firm income: Not reported

Government targets: HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, SENATE

Asked PA House Members to support and co-sponsor H.R.4708, the H-2 Improvements to Relieve Employers (HIRE) Act by Representatives Tony Gonzales (R-TX) and Henry Cuellar (D-TX). This bill would codify codify visa interview waiver authority for H-2 workers and extend the validity of a companys visa petitions and labor certifications. Asked PA House Members to support and co-sponsor H.R.3516, the Farmworker Access and Waiver Act (FAWA) by Representative Nancy Mace (R-SC-01). This bill would waive the interview requirement for returning H-2A visa workers who were previously approved. Expressed to PA House and Senate Members concerns over DHS' Notice of Proposed Rulemaking to increase fees for H-2B and H-2A non-immigrant visa programs and institutes a $600 Asylum Program Fee on every petition (Docket #: USCIS 2021-0010). Informed PA House and Senate Members that Farm Bureau has concerns about mandatory e-verify in H.R.2, the Secure the Border Act by Representative Mario Diaz-Balart (R-FL-26).

Client expense: $20,000 · Firm income: Not reported

Government targets: HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, SENATE

Michigan Farm Bureau continues to advocate for a long-term solution to our agricultural workforce needs. We continue to communicate to Congress on the out-of-control growth in the Adverse Effect Wage Rate (AEWR) and challenges with the H-2A visa program. We are also concerned with a few recent rules from the Biden Administration and shared those concerns with Congress. Michigan Farm Bureau communicated with Congress in opposition to the Department of Labors rule regarding the Adverse Effect Wage Rate (AEWR) methodology for the Temporary Employment of H-2A Nonimmigrants (Employment and Training Administration, Department of Labor, Docket Number ETA-2021-0006). MFB is supporting a Congressional Resolution of Disapproval under the Congressional Review Act (CRA) in opposition to the final AEWR rule and is encouraging Members of Congress to support it. The rule neglects to account for the fact that farm job descriptions often include many different responsibilities not just one role as the rule assumes. H.J.Res. 59 and S.J.Res. 25. MFB is also supporting S. 874 and H.R. 3308, the Farm Operations Support Act. The bill would require that the AEWR that was in effect on December 1, 2022, remains the AEWR through December 21, 2023. MFB is also supporting H.R. 3516, a bill which would waive the visa interview requirement for returning H-2A guestworkers. MFB also communicated with Congress on the USCIS proposed rule to increase fees for the H-2A and H-2B visa programs. Specifically, USCIS proposes to raise filing fees for H-2A and H-2B petitions by 137% and 135%, respectively. In addition, USCIS proposes an additional $600 asylum fee per petition. Furthermore, by capping each petition at 25 workers, employers with a larger guest worker need, will incur these costs potentially multiple times over. MFB is very concerned with these proposed charges to farmers and has asked Congress to weigh in. MFB opposed H.R. 2 the Secure the Border Act of 2023 due to the bill containing mandatory E-verify. Farm Bureau cannot support mandatory E-verify unless it moves in tandem with legislation to improve the stability of our agricultural workforce. MFB also supported including language in the House Appropriations bill for FY2024 that would include an H-2B returning worker cap exemption. H-2B is an important guestworker program for agricultural processors and others that rely on seasonal workers.

H.R. 2, Secure the Border Act of 2023 H.R. 16, American Dream and Promise Act of 2023 H.R. 29, Border Safety and Security Act of 2023 H.R. 163, Security First Act H.R. 319, Legal Workforce Act H.R. 489, Expedited Removal Codification Act of 2023 H.R. 575, Moving H-2A to United States Department of Agriculture Act of 2023 H.R. 614, Commercial Fishing and Seafood Business Act of 2023 H.R. 672, Border Security Investment Act H.R. 1325/S. 255, Asylum Seeker Work Authorization Act of 2023 H.R. 1511, Renewing Immigration Provisions of the Immigration Act of 1929 H.R. 1535, Eliminating Backlogs Act of 2023 H.R. 1760, To extend the admission to Guam or the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands for certain nonimmigrant H-2B workers H.R. 1778, Better Agriculture Resources Now (BARN) Act H.R. 1787, To amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to provide nonimmigrant status to mobile entertainment workers, and for other purposes H.R. 2393, Combating Cartels on Social Media Act of 2023 H.R. 2758, Returning Worker Accountability Act of 2023 H.R. 2827/S. 1301, Partner with Korea Act H.R. 3308/S. 874, Farm Operations Support Act H.R. 3442/S. 1667, Protecting Children of Long-Term Visa Holders Act of 2023 H.R. 3516, Farmworker Access and Waiver Act H.R. 3599, DIGNITY Act H.R. 3734, Essential Workers for Economic Advancement Act H.R. 3808, To amend the Afghan Allies Protection Act of 2009 to authorize additional special immigrant visas, to require a strategy for efficient processing, and to establish designated senior special immigrant visa coordinating officials, and for other purposes H.R. 4048, Venezuelan Adjustment Act H.R. 4358, PHDs First Act H.R. 4367, Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act, 2024 H.R. 4448, Canadian Snowbird Visa Act H.R. 4627/S. 2327 Afghan Adjustment Act H.R. 4647, High-skilled Immigration Reform for Employment Act H.R. 4665, Department of State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Appropriations Act, 2024, including provisions related to amendment 133, to eliminate all funding for the Educational and Cultural Exchange programs account H.R. 4708, H-2 Improvements to Relieve Employers (HIRE) Act H.R. 4942 S. 665/, Conrad State 30 and Physician Access Reauthorization Act H.R. 5127, Visitor Visa Wait Time Reduction Act H.R. 5155, Temporary Family Visitation Act H.R. 5477/S. 2384, Keep STEM Talent Act of 2023 S. 156, Accountability Through Electronic Verification Act S. 207, Temporary Protected Status Reform and Integrity Act S. 243, A bill to require the Commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection to establish procedures for conducting maintenance projects at ports of entry at which the Office of Field Operations conducts certain enforcement and facilitation activities S. 255, Asylum Seeker Work Authorization Act of 2023 S. 365, Dream Act of 2023 S. 387, Canadian Snowbirds Act of 2023 S. 425, Secure and Protect Act of 2023 S. 505, Immigration Parole Reform Act of 2023 S. 979,H-1B and L-1 Visa Reform Act of 2023 S. 1253, Securing America's Ports of Entry Act of 2023 S. 1727, Safe Environment from Countries Under Repression and Emergency (SECURE) Act S. 1786, Afghan Allies Protection Act of 2023 S. 1926, A bill to amend the Caribbean Basin Economic Recovery Act to make Uruguay eligible for designation as a beneficiary country under that Act, to include Uruguay in the list of foreign states whose nationals are eligible for admission into the United States as E1 and E2 nonimmigrants if nationals of the United States are treated similarly by the Government of Uruguay, and to require a report on the eligibility of Uruguay for the visa waiver program, and for other purposes S. 2278, Border Enforcement, Security, and Trade (BEST) Facilitation Act of 2023 S. 2324, Ensuring American Security and Protecting Afghan Allies Act S. 2632, Visa Processing Improvement Act S. 2705, State Executive Authority for Seasonal Occupations Needing Additional Labor (SEASONAL) Act S. 2719, Directing Our Countrys Transfer Of Residency Slots (DOCTORS) Act S. 2785, Higher Wages for American Workers Act of 2023 H.J. Res 59/S. J. Res. 25, Providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Department of Labor relating to "Adverse Effect Wage Rate Methodology for the Temporary Employment of H-2A Nonimmigrants in Non-Range Occupations in the United States" H. Res. 481, Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that BridgeUSA exchange programs are vital to the economy and national interests of the United States, and that Congress should prioritize robust support to ensure equitable opportunities for Americans and people from other countries Various issues relating to visa waiver program; H-1B Visa Program; H-1B registration rule; H-1B reform; H-2 Visa Program and temporary rule; H-2A Visa Program; H-4 rule; L-1 Visa Program; J-1 Bridge USA program; EB-5 Visa Program; E-Verify program; nonimmigrant workers in temporary or seasonal nonagricultural employment; Customs and Border Protection staffing at U.S. ports of entry; border security; immigration policy and reforms; guest worker programs; legalization concepts; visa reform; customs trade facilitation and enforcement; Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program; extension of temporary protected status (TPS) designations for El Salvador, Honduras, and Haiti; administrative-regulatory efforts related to public charge, notice to appear, H-4 & OPT; delays in H-4 and L-2 Status Extensions and Employment Authorization Documents (EADs); FY24 funding for Customs and Border Protection staffing; Office of Foreign Labor Certifications Planned Implementation of Form ETA-9089, Application for Permanent Employment Certification, into DOLs Foreign Labor Application Gateway (FLAG) System; high-skilled immigration; lesser skilled immigration; temporary agricultural guest workers; temporary non-agricultural guest workers; optional practical training program; asylum and refugee programs; size and administration of employment-based immigrant visa categories; size and administration of family-based immigrant visa categories; size and administration of employment-based nonimmigrant visa categories; I-9 employment verification; interior enforcement; increased vetting of visa applicants; unfair immigration related employment practices; international travel; trusted traveler programs; biometric entry-exit; increasing the number of ICE officers, border patrol agents and Customs and Border Protection officers; aerial security enhancements; EB-5 Regional Center Program and the Implementation of the EB-5 Reform and Integrity Act of 2022, P.L. 117-103, Division BB; temporary DHS guidance for the I-9 employment verification process in the wake of COVID-19; State Department policy extending consular interview waiver eligibility; State Department Consular Fee schedule; USCIS Fee Schedule; regulatory proposals that would restrict applicant eligibility for the H-1B program; regulatory proposals that would drastically change how prevailing wage levels are determined for the purposes of obtaining certain employment-based nonimmigrant and immigrant visas; proposals that would significantly change how cap-subject H-1B petitions will be chosen in the future; regulatory proposals that would change how the period of admission for student visa holders and exchange visa holders is determined; regulatory proposals that will temporarily raise the annual quota for H-2B visas; regulatory proposals reopening and expanding consular operations; recapturing unused immigrant visas from prior years; creating exemptions to the current immigrant visa caps; proposals that would expand consular interview waivers for prospective immigrant and nonimmigrant visa applicants abroad; proposals that would provide relief for Afghan refugees; reinstitution of stateside visa revalidation services; implementation of electronic visa foils in passports; consular service delays; USCIS processing delays; DOL processing delays; Visa relief for long term foreign national workers laid off by their employers while waiting for their green cards in the immigrant visa backlogs; improving wait times for CBP Processing at Ports of Entry; expanding and implementing new CBP preclearance facilities abroad; reforms to the use of parole authority; extending the validity period for employment authorization documents; instituting a second FY24 H-1B lottery to insure usage of all cap-subject H-1B visas; reforms to the State Departments Visa Bulletin; Implementation of the new optional I-9 document verification procedures

Asked PA House Members to support and co-sponsor H.R.3516, the Farmworker Access and Waiver Act (FAWA) by Representative Nancy Mace (R-SC-01). This bill would waive the interview requirement for returning H-2A visa workers who were previously approved. Asked PA House Members to sign onto Representatives Pappas, Valadao, and Simpson's letter to DHS regarding concerns over their Notice of Proposed Rulemaking to increase fees for H-2B and H-2A non-immigrant visa programs and institutes a $600 Asylum Program Fee on every petition (Docket #: USCIS 2021-0010). Informed PA House and Senate Members that Farm Bureau has concerns about mandatory e-verify in H.R.2, the Secure the Border Act by Representative Mario Diaz-Balart (R-FL-26). Informed PA House and Senate Members of AFBF's opposition/comments to USCIS' fee increase proposal (Docket #: USCIS 2021-0010).

Client expense: $15,000 · Firm income: Not reported

Government targets: HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, SENATE

H.R. 2, Secure the Border Act of 2023 H.R. 16, American Dream and Promise Act of 2023 H.R. 29, Border Safety and Security Act of 2023 H.R. 163, Security First Act H.R. 319, Legal Workforce Act H.R. 489, Expedited Removal Codification Act of 2023 H.R. 575, Moving H-2A to United States Department of Agriculture Act of 2023 H.R. 614, Commercial Fishing and Seafood Business Act of 2023 H.R. 672, Border Security Investment Act H.R. 1511, Renewing Immigration Provisions of the Immigration Act of 1929 H.R. 1535, Eliminating Backlogs Act of 2023 H.R. 1760, To extend the admission to Guam or the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands for certain nonimmigrant H-2B workers H.R. 1787, To amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to provide nonimmigrant status to mobile entertainment workers, and for other purposes H.R. 2758, Returning Worker Accountability Act of 2023 H.R. 3308, Farm Operations Support Act H.R. 3442/S. 1667, Protecting Children of Long-Term Visa Holders Act of 2023 H.R. 3516, Farmworker Access and Waiver Act H.R. 3599, DIGNITY Act H.R. 3734, Essential Workers for Economic Advancement Act H.R. 3808, To amend the Afghan Allies Protection Act of 2009 to authorize additional special immigrant visas, to require a strategy for efficient processing, and to establish designated senior special immigrant visa coordinating officials, and for other purposes H.R. 4367 - Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act, 2024 S. 156, Accountability Through Electronic Verification Act S. 207, Temporary Protected Status Reform and Integrity Act S. 255, Asylum Seeker Work Authorization Act of 2023 S. 365, Dream Act of 2023 S. 387, Canadian Snowbirds Act of 2023 S. 425, Secure and Protect Act of 2023 S. 505, Immigration Parole Reform Act of 2023 S. 665, Conrad State 30 and Physician Access Reauthorization Act S. 874, Farm Operations Support Act S. 979,H-1B and L-1 Visa Reform Act of 2023 S. 1253, Securing America's Ports of Entry Act of 2023 S. 1786, Afghan Allies Protection Act of 2023 S. 1926, A bill to amend the Caribbean Basin Economic Recovery Act to make Uruguay eligible for designation as a beneficiary country under that Act, to include Uruguay in the list of foreign states whose nationals are eligible for admission into the United States as E1 and E2 nonimmigrants if nationals of the United States are treated similarly by the Government of Uruguay, and to require a report on the eligibility of Uruguay for the visa waiver program, and for other purposes H.J. Res 59/S. J. Res. 25, Providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Department of Labor relating to "Adverse Effect Wage Rate Methodology for the Temporary Employment of H-2A Nonimmigrants in Non-Range Occupations in the United States" H. Res. 481, Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that BridgeUSA exchange programs are vital to the economy and national interests of the United States, and that Congress should prioritize robust support to ensure equitable opportunities for Americans and people from other countries Potential legislation similar to H.R. 6637, Dignity for Immigrants while Guarding our Nation to Ignite and Deliver the American Dream DIGNIDAD (Dignity) Act Various issues relating to visa waiver program; H-1B Visa Program; H-1B registration rule; H-1B reform; H-2 Visa Program and temporary rule; H-2A Visa Program H-4 rule; L-1 Visa Program; J-1 BridgeUSA program; EB-5 Visa Program; E-Verify program; nonimmigrant workers in temporary or seasonal nonagricultural employment; Customs and Border Protection staffing at U.S. ports of entry; border security; immigration policy and reforms; guest worker programs; legalization concepts; visa reform; customs trade facilitation and enforcement; Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program; extension of temporary protected status (TPS) designations for El Salvador, Honduras, and Haiti; administrative-regulatory efforts related to public charge, notice to appear, H-4 & OPT; delays in H-4 and L-2 Status Extensions and Employment Authorization Documents (EADs); FY24 funding for Customs and Border Protection staffing; Office of Foreign Labor Certifications Planned Implementation of Form ETA-9089, Application for Permanent Employment Certification, into DOLs Foreign Labor Application Gateway (FLAG) System; high-skilled immigration; lesser skilled immigration; temporary agricultural guest workers; temporary non-agricultural guest workers; optional practical training program; asylum and refugee programs; size and administration of employment-based immigrant visa categories; size and administration of family-based immigrant visa categories; size and administration of employment-based nonimmigrant visa categories; expansion of the use of the E-Verify system; I-9 employment verification; interior enforcement; increased vetting of visa applicants; unfair immigration related employment practices; international travel; trusted traveler programs; biometric entry-exit; increasing the number of ICE officers, border patrol agents and Customs and Border Protection officers; aerial security enhancements; EB-5 Regional Center Program and the Implementation of the EB-5 Reform and Integrity Act of 2022, P.L. 117-103, Division BB; temporary DHS guidance for the I-9 employment verification process in the wake of COVID-19; State Department policy extending consular interview waiver eligibility; State Department Consular Fee schedule; USCIS Fee Schedule; regulatory proposals that would restrict applicant eligibility for the H-1B program; regulatory proposals that would change how prevailing wage levels are determined for the purposes of obtaining certain employment-based nonimmigrant and immigrant visas; proposals that would change how cap-subject H-1B petitions will be chosen in the future; regulatory proposals that would change how the period of admission for student visa holders and exchange visa holders is determined; regulatory proposals that will temporarily raise the annual quota for H-2B visas; regulatory proposals reopening and expanding consular operations; recapturing unused immigrant visas from prior years; creating exemptions to the current immigrant visa caps; proposals that would expand consular interview waivers for prospective immigrant and nonimmigrant visa applicants abroad; proposals that would provide relief for Afghan refugees; reinstitution of stateside visa revalidation services; implementation of electronic visa foils in passports; consular service delays; USCIS processing delays; DOL processing delays; Visa relief for long term foreign national workers laid off by their employers while waiting for their green cards in the immigrant visa backlogs; improving wait times for CBP Processing at Ports of Entry; expanding and implementing new CBP preclearance facilities abroad

Michigan Farm Bureau continues to advocate for a long-term solution to our agricultural workforce needs. We continue to communicate to Congress on the out-of-control growth in the Adverse Effect Wage Rate (AEWR) and challenges with the H-2A visa program. We are also concerned with a few recent rules from the Biden Administration and shared those concerns with Congress. Michigan Farm Bureau communicated with Congress in opposition to the Department of Labors rule regarding the Adverse Effect Wage Rate (AEWR) methodology for the Temporary Employment of H-2A Nonimmigrants (Employment and Training Administration, Department of Labor, Docket Number ETA-2021-0006). MFB is supporting a Congressional Resolution of Disapproval under the Congressional Review Act (CRA) in opposition to the final AEWR rule and is encouraging Members of Congress to support it. The rule neglects to account for the fact that farm job descriptions often include many different responsibilities not just one role as the rule assumes. H.J.Res. 59 and S.J.Res. 25. MFB is also supporting S. 874 and H.R. 3308, the Farm Operations Support Act. The bill would require that the AEWR that was in effect on December 1, 2022, remains the AEWR through December 21, 2023. MFB is also supporting H.R. 3516, a bill which would waive the visa interview requirement for returning H-2A guestworkers. MFB also communicated with Congress on the USCIS proposed rule to increase fees for the H-2A and H-2B visa programs. Specifically, USCIS proposes to raise filing fees for H-2A and H-2B petitions by 137% and 135%, respectively. In addition, USCIS proposes an additional $600 asylum fee per petition. Furthermore, by capping each petition at 25 workers, employers with a larger guest worker need, will incur these costs potentially multiple times over. MFB is very concerned with these proposed charges to farmers and has asked Congress to weigh in. MFB opposed H.R. 2 the Secure the Border Act of 2023 due to the bill containing mandatory E-verify. Farm Bureau cannot support mandatory E-verify unless it moves in tandem with legislation to improve the stability of our agricultural workforce. MFB also supported including language in the House Appropriations bill for FY2024 that would include an H-2B returning worker cap exemption. H-2B is an important guestworker program for agricultural processors and others that rely on seasonal workers.