Legislative Updates
H-2B Visas
The first half of the H-2B visa cap is expected to be reached by September 18, three weeks earlier than last year. This earlier date is due to improved processing times at the Department of Labor (DOL), where the agency has achieved a 15% increase in applications processed per day. As you may recall, our friends at the Forest Resources Association (FRA) raised concerns with the DOL and met with key officials recently to address delays in processing times that had significantly impacted employers of H-2B forestry workers. In some cases, employers who should have received approval for H-2B forestry workers were capped out. Our counterparts at the FRA will continue to work with the DOL and Department of Homeland Security to ensure that those in our industry have access to non-immigrant labor, which is critical to sustainable forestry.
Truck Weight/Supply Chain
A coalition comprised of associations representing Class 1 Railroad companies and smaller short-line rail operations, as well as unions and other groups, sent a letter to House leadership expressing opposition to H.R. 3372—an industry-supported bill that authorizes a pilot program for heavier 91,000-pound rigs equipped with a sixth axle to travel on our nation’s interstate highway system. (Federal highways’ current gross vehicle truck weight limit is 81,000 pounds on five axles.)
The letter was prompted by a sign-on letter request from Members of Congress supporting H.R. 3372, urging House leadership to vote on the measure when Congress returns in September. One of the supporting talking points for H.R. 3372 is that it would reduce truck traffic on local roads that frequently run through small towns and intersect crosswalks by encouraging shippers to move freight more efficiently on the federal interstate system. The opposition letter, written by the Coalition Against Bigger Trucks, turns that argument on its head by asserting that there would be several consequences for local roads and bridges.
The data points seem to be on our side of this issue. Our friends at the FRA will continue to pursue enactment of H.R. 3372 and our Safe Routes Act (H.R. 2493/S.1818) for the remainder of this session and into 2025 if necessary.
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