SEA Labor Blog: Key Updates and Insights on FY25 DHS Appropriations
Where We Are
On Friday, the House passed the FY25 DHS Appropriations bill by avote of 212-203. Had voted straight party line, the bill would have failed, but five Democrats, all in 50/50 districts where Trump is polling well, voted yes. Six Republicans voted no. Andy Harris (R-MD-1) voted no due to the removal of his H-2B amendment and we believe this was also the reason for Ralph Norman's (R-SC-5) no vote. It is a huge faux pas for a member to vote against its party's appropriation's bills. Leadership does not take kindly to this. Harris and Norman deserve our thanks for their willingness to take a stand in support of H-2B employers and against the shenanigans that occurred at Tuesday's Rules Committee meeting. We are trading blows with our opponents. We have won rounds, they have won rounds but who will win the fight? This is why we cannot let up. This will be a fifteen round fight. Buckle up!
What Next: Senate Consideration Of The Harris Amendment
The goal was to obtain the same may-to-shall Harris amendment language in the House and Senate DHS Appropriations bills. Although our language was ultimately not included in the House DHS Appropriations bill, our outreach efforts to Chairman Jordan and Speaker Johnson were not in vain and will hopefully pay dividends down the road. We seem to have moved the needle with Jim Jordan enough that he confirmed to two colleagues that he would remain neutral on the Harris amendment. This may have been slightly disingenuous, but we must take him at his word. We now move to the Senate where we will work to get the Harris amendment language inserted into the Senate's FY25 DHS Appropriations bill. We do not have a timeframe for when that bill will be marked up, but we will ramp up outreach when the Senate returns from its July 4th recess.If we get the Harris amendment included in the Senate bill, the goal is then to get Speaker Johnson to accept the Senate H-2B language at conference. This is when House and Senate Leadership jointly finalize the House and Senate bills before sending them to the President for his signature.
Impact on 2025 Season:
The timing works in our favor in that we expect DHS to release the FY 2025 visas prior to passage of the FY25 DHS Appropriations bill. Therefore, the may-to-shall language effects FY26 at the earliest, and likely only if Trump wins the election. If Biden wins, we expect the Biden administration’s continued support of the program.
Seasonal Employment Protection Act Update:
Biden's poor debate performance and Trump's subsequent rise in the polls is good news for SEPA's prospects. The Democrats and labor unions will want to clear the decks of their priorities prior to the election. We are hopeful Padilla and labor will respond soon to our counteroffer on removing the u-visa section.
Gray Delany