Issue Updates
Friday, 08 January 2021 11:23
FRA Issue Update - 1/8/21
From January 1-3, 2021, the Department of Labor (DOL) received a total of 5,377 H-2B applications requesting more than 96,500 worker positions. The number of workers requested is nearly three times more than the 33,000 mandated cap for the second half of fiscal year 2021.
Monday, 28 December 2020 07:02
FRA Issue Update - 12/21/20
Today we want to inform you of two important issue updates. First, highlights of the Fiscal Year 2021 omnibus appropriations package and Covid-19 relief bill, which was unveiled earlier this afternoon. The bill is 5,593 pages, and we are still reviewing, but we wanted to provide FRA Members with a “hot off the presses” quick snapshot of key provisions in the bill that are pertinent to our sector.
Friday, 18 December 2020 11:07
FRA Issue Update - 12/18/20
This week, the FRA Public Policy and Advocacy Committee approved the FRA Biden-Harris Transition document. The transition document will provide a brief overview of FRA’s primary policy initiatives for the 117th Congress to the Biden Administration, including our position on H-2B non-immigrant labor, transportation, and carbon neutrality of forest-based biomass.
Monday, 14 December 2020 08:44
FRA Issue Update - 12/11/20
Apart from the Guatemala City Consulate, the National Interest Exception to the non-immigrant labor suspension has provided a pathway for H-2B forestry workers to come to the U.S. to plant trees. Over the last few weeks, FRA has been working with White House staff and Congressional Members to address concerns over the Guatemala City Consulate (GCC) decision not to issue H-2B visas for forestry workers.
Friday, 04 December 2020 13:43
FRA Issue Update - 12/4/20
This week, House Democrat and Republican leaders advanced committee leadership recommendations for next year in the new Congress. For the House Agriculture Committee, the Democrat Steering and Policy Committee voted Tuesday to recommend David Scott (D-GA-13) as the next chairman.
Monday, 30 November 2020 07:23
FRA Issue Update - 11/25/20
With the 117th Congress just a couple of months away, FRA would like to share our policy priorities. These priorities were developed through a survey of our leadership and national committees, along with actions identified in the FRA Strategic Plan.
Friday, 20 November 2020 10:53
FRA Issue Update - 11/20/20
This week, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services announced that they received enough petitions for H-2B workers to reach the congressionally mandated cap for the first half of FY 2021. The 33,000 H-2B visa allocation for the first half of the FY was reached on November 16.
Friday, 13 November 2020 12:11
FRA Issue Update - 11/13/20
The U.S. Senate unveiled all 12 of its Fiscal Year 2021 appropriations bills earlier this week. In a positive development, the FY 21 spending legislation for the Departments of Interior, Environment and Related Agencies includes FRA-supported language directing federal departments and agencies to recognize the carbon neutrality of forest-based biomass energy, which we use to heat and power our pulp and paper facilities and sawmills.
Friday, 06 November 2020 09:40
FRA Issue Update - 11/6/20
On September 10, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) published a proposed pilot program that would allow younger drivers between 18 and 20 to operate commercial motor vehicles (CMVs) across state lines. Currently, 49 states and the District of Columbia allow 18, 19, and 20-year-olds to drive trucks within state lines.
Friday, 30 October 2020 12:36
FRA Issue Update - 10/30/20
November 3, as we all know, is Election Day in the United States. The 2020 election is on pace for a historical voter turn-out. To assist our members in navigating through the election results, FRA has worked with BIPAC and added an interactive map that will provide up-to-date federal election results at the state level.