ASA Supports Immigration Reform Including Expansion of the H2B Program and More…

Three-fourths of the construction industry consists of subcontractors, and ASA members will need 723,00 workers annually to meet demand.  Factors driving this include natural disaster recovery, increased data center needs, likely raising labor costs. In the past year, average hourly earnings have increased by 4.4 percent. ASA urges the 119th Congress to make the worker shortage in the construction industry a priority by reforming immigration laws. We propose expanding the H-2B visa program, increasing employment-based visa quotas, and creating a market-driven visa program for foreign workers. Additionally, ASA supports protections for Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) and Temporary Protected Status (TPS) recipients in the construction industry and suggests an improved E-Verify system with safeguards for employers.