H.R. 4708 — Introduced in House

I 118th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 4708 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES July 18, 2023 Mr. Tony Gonzales of Texas (for himself, Mr. Cuellar, Mr. Ciscomani, Mr. Vicente Gonzalez of Texas, Mrs. Bice, Mr. Pappas, Mr. Van Drew, Mr. Lawler, Mr. Duarte, Ms. Malliotakis, Mr. Soto, Ms. De La Cruz, Mr. Thanedar, Ms. Salazar, Mr. Valadao, Mr. Moylan, and Mr. Bacon) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committee on Education and the Workforce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned A BILL To streamline the issuance of nonimmigrant temporary work visas, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the H–2 Improvements to Relieve Employers Act or the HIRE Act. 2. Streamline process for H–2A and H–2B for employers (a) H–2A Section 218 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1188) is amended by adding at the end the following: (j) Duration (1) Certification A certification issued under this section shall be in effect for a period of 3 years. (2) Petition A petition filed under this section shall be valid for a period of 3 years. . (b) H–2B Section 214(g) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1184(g)) is amended by adding at the end the following: (12) (A) A petition filed on behalf of an alien to temporarily perform labor or services in the United States under section 101(a)(15)(H)(ii)(b) shall be valid for a period of 3 years. (B) A certification issued for the temporary employment of aliens performing labor or services under section 101(a)(15)(H)(ii)(b) shall be in effect for a period of 3 years. . 3. Streamline process for H–2A/H–2B returning workers (a) H–2A Section 218 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1188), as amended by this Act, is further amended by adding at the end the following: (k) Waiver of interview An in-person interview may be waived with respect to an alien who is seeking to renew status under section 101(a)(15)(H)(ii)(a) not more than 4 years after the expiration of such status. . (b) H–2B Section 214(g) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1184(g)) is amended by adding at the end the following: (13) An in-person interview may be waived with respect to an alien who is seeking to renew status under section 101(a)(15)(H)(ii)(b) not more than 4 years after the expiration of such status. . 4. Enhance Job Transparency The Secretary of Labor, at the request of an employer, shall publish, on the website of the Department of Labor, information on the amount of seasons during which such employer expects to have seasonal employment available, not to exceed 3 seasons.