A coalition of Colorado businesses that rely on foreign guest workers is lobbying federal lawmakers for legislation to allow them to continue employing seasonal workers.
The national limit of 66,000 H-2B visas is set to expire this summer.
A bill pending in Congress would extend that limit each year for three years to Sept. 30, 2009.
The coalition is made up of the National Ski Areas Association, the Associated Landscape Contractors of Colorado, the Colorado Hotel and Lodging Association and the Rocky Mountain Golf Course Superintendent Association.
Foreign guest workers who have worked in the United States during the previous three years under the visa program aren’t counted toward the limit, making the number of actual visas granted higher than the cap.
Colorado businesses depend heavily on the foreign workers.
In fiscal 2004, Colorado businesses accounted for about 16,500 – one-fourth – of the H-2B guest visas available under the quota.
“We are working with the Colorado (congressional) delegation to sign on as co-sponsors or at least to support the bill,” said Ilene Kamsler, president of the Colorado Hotel and Lodging Association.
Kamsler said the coalition formed about three months ago to take members’ concerns to Congress.
Hotels and other businesses that rely on the workers say Americans aren’t willing to do the jobs that foreign guest workers take.
Staff writer Tom McGhee can be reached at 303-820-1671 or tmcghee@denverpost.com.
