Horizon Landscaping, Inc - VanDenBerg, Carla

My husband and I have owned a small landscape company since 1983. We have used the H2B program for the past 10 years and it has been a great help to us in finding workers for our seasonal business. H2B is essential for us to continue as a small business in this economy. Americans do not want these jobs--even if the rate was $13.00 an hour. Using the H2B is about the only way to get workers that are eligible to work in the United States. Since the government will not deal with the immigration issue, the H2B program allows us to find these workers. Many of our workers have been returning to us for several years on this program. We currently have 8 workers here now on the H2B program. I do not understand how you can change the wage rules Oct 1 when they are eligible to stay until Nov. 30.. It does not seem fair to them or to us--since we are the ones who have paid for the program and for them to be here. By passing this, you are ensuring that these workers will be sent home on Sept 30. This economy can not support these wages for laborers. I ask the you reconsider the date of Oct 1 for the wage increase. If the wage increase goes through, you will have destroyed the H2B program for many small businesses.