Seasonal Worker Solidarity Act of 2020

Summary

Seasonal Worker Solidarity Act of 2020 This bill modifies the H-2B (temporary nonagricultural workers) visa program and expands protections for aliens who report workplace violations. Changes to the H-2B program include requiring the Department of Labor to establish a centralized national electronic platform for U.S. workers to find and apply for positions that employers are seeking to fill with H-2B workers; requiring employers to recruit U.S. workers nationwide, including by posting the openings on the platform, before applying for H-2B visas; requiring employers to guarantee at least 40 hours of paid work per week for each H-2B worker (currently employers may guarantee less paid hours in certain instances); requiring employers to pay for housing for H-2B workers and transportation to and from the work site (currently employers are allowed to deduct fees for lodgings from an H-2B worker's pay); modifying the requirements for determining the minimum wage for H-2B workers; and prioritizing H-2B visas for certain employers, such as those that pay higher wages. Furthermore, an alien who has worked a certain amount of time as an H-2B worker may obtain permanent resident status, subject to various requirements. In addition, an alien who is likely helpful in an investigation of a workplace claim (i.e., an alleged violation of law or workplace-related injury) may qualify for a U visa for victims of criminal activity. The bill also removes statutory numerical limitations on U visas. The bill also provides protections for certain aliens who file or assist in the investigation of workplace claims.

This text is taken from the official record. PoliticalRepo does not editorialize.

Timeline

1. 14 December 2020

   Introduced

   Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.

   Source: IntroReferral

2. 14 December 2020

   Introduced

   Introduced in House

   Source: IntroReferral

3. 14 December 2020

   Introduced

   Introduced in House

   Source: IntroReferral

Votes

No vote records are attached yet.

Versions

• Introduced in House · 14 December 2020 · Official file

Documents

3 official files

• Introduced in House (text)

  Introduced in House · EN · 14 December 2020

  ViewDownloadOpen at official source

• Introduced in House (PDF)

  Introduced in House · EN · 14 December 2020

  ViewDownloadOpen at official source

• Introduced in House

  summary · EN · 14 December 2020

  Open at official source

Sponsors

• Rep. Castro, Joaquin [D-TX-20] · D · Sponsor
• Rep. Chu, Judy [D-CA-28] · D · Sponsor
• Karen Bass · D · Sponsor
• Linda Sánchez · D · Sponsor
• Rep. Jayapal, Pramila [D-WA-7] · D · Sponsor
• Andy Levin · D · Sponsor
• Rosa DeLauro · D · Sponsor
• Rep. Pocan, Mark [D-WI-2] · D · Sponsor
• · hsju00 · Standing

Related records

• related to → POWER Act
• related to → POWER Act