Our condolences go out to the family of Claire Morton who passed away December 16. Claire was an amazing person who became the first woman president of the Showmen's League of America in 2005. She was so involved with the SLA she even moved to Chicago during her presidency to ensure the historical preservation and financial stability of our organization. The SLA was lucky to have such a dedicated president and we are better because of her leadership.
She will be greatly missed. Services will be held January 11 at the First Southern Baptist Church at 1pm in Wickenberg, AZ.

Congressional leaders are working to negotiate a year end spending package in advance of Friday’s deadline. We need your help to make sure H-2B cap relief is part of any package. Please take action today to urge Congress to fix the cap, even if you have recently done so. Action today and tomorrow is critical.

Requested Actions:

1. Please click on the appropriate link below, set up by the National Association of Landscape Professionals, to send a letter to your Representative and two Senators urging them to support meaningful H-2B cap relief package in a final Department of Homeland Security Spending bill. Please also share these links with your colleagues and customers and encourage them to respond.

Send a letter as an H-2B employer – https://p2a.co/EBqHuei 
Send a letter as employee of a seasonal business — https://p2a.co/cmClTyn 
Send a letter as a customer of a seasonal business — https://p2a.co/ZOSf9G0 

2. Please call your Representative and two Senators and ask them to urge their party leaders to include meaningful H-2B cap relief in a final DHS appropriations bill. You can reach your elected officials through the Capitol Switchboard at 202-225-3121. Once connected to your Representative orSenator’s office ask to speak to the person who handles H-2B issues. Please make these calls today!

3. Tweet at your Senators and Representative using #SaveH2B. You can find their twitter addresses at: https://twitter.com/verified/lists/us-congress/members. Some sample tweets are below.
o H-2B Cap Hit! Pass cap relief now! #saveH2B
o Save American jobs. Pass H-2B cap relief now! #saveH2B
o The H-2B program relies on workers who come to the U.S. for seasonal work, tgo home. #saveH2B
o Every H-2B worker creates and sustains 4.64 American jobs. Pass H-2B cap relief now! #saveH2B
o #saveH2B and save American Jobs! Pass H-2B cap relief now!
o H-2B program = more American jobs. Pass H-2B cap relief now. #saveH2B
o H-2B workers support American jobs. Pass H-2B cap relief now! #saveH2B
o Save the spring and summer. Pass H-2B cap relief now! #saveH2B

Background:

Congress is the process of negotiating a final Fiscal 2019 Department of Homeland Security Spending bill. This legislation must be completed by December 21, in order to avoid a government shut down. President Trump and Congressional Democrats continue to fight over funding for a southern border wall and other issues. We are not certain of the final form that a year-end spending package will take or if there will be a short-term government shutdown, but we do know that whatever spending bill materializes from the ongoing negotiations between the President and Congress must include H-2B cap relief. This spending package is the only opportunity for Congress to fix the H-2B cap this year before the bulk H-2B petitions are submitted to the Department of Labor on January 1. It is essential that Senators and Representatives who support H-2B program speak to their party leaders today. Please urge your lawmakers to act today.

Thanks for all of your help to #saveH2B.