Last week, GCSAA Grassroots Ambassadors joined efforts to increase the number of H-2B workers available to the golf industry. The central issue is ensuring that golf and other seasonal industries have access to enough H-2B workers to meet their labor needs.

Thanks to the advocacy of GCSAA and other organizations, Congress has authorized 64,716 supplemental visas to help address labor shortages nationwide. Sens. Susan Collins (R-ME) and Mike Rounds (R-SD) and Reps. Andrew Harris (MD) and Henry Cuellar (D-TX) drafted letters to the Departments of Homeland Security and Labor urging to release the maximum number of these visas as soon as possible.

In support of this effort, GCSAA issued two targeted action alerts to Grassroots Ambassadors. The goal was to secure as many additional members of Congress on these letters as possible. Across the two alerts and one follow-up notice, 26 GCSAA Grassroots Ambassadors contacted their congressional offices to urge support for cap relief. This engagement contributed to the continued momentum behind H-2B reform, as well as helped educate lawmakers, build bipartisan support and highlight the essential contribution golf facilities make as seasonal employers in communities across the country. The result was a strong, bipartisan letter that underscored the nationwide need for continued improvements to the H-2B Program.

Thank you to all Ambassadors who took action – your advocacy continues to strengthen GCSAA’s efforts to secure reliable access to seasonal labor for the golf industry.

If you have questions or if you want to become more involved through GCSAA’s Grassroots Ambassador program and stay informed on priority issues, please contact Kelly Lonker, grassroots advocacy specialist, at klonker@gcsaa.org or 785-832-3611.