Bill > HR1596

This bill, the American Jobs in American Forests Act of 2013, aims to increase American employment by requiring employers seeking to hire H2B nonimmigrants, which are foreign workers coming to the U.S. temporarily for non-agricultural jobs, to first prove they have made a genuine effort to find qualified American workers. Specifically, prospective H2B employers must conduct extensive recruitment, including advertising at job fairs, working with state and local workforce agencies and non-profit organizations, and using appropriate media like local radio and reputable job websites, before they can petition to hire foreign workers. Furthermore, state workforce agencies will play a crucial role by consulting with neighboring states, certifying that employers have met all recruitment requirements, and ultimately determining if there are no qualified or available American workers to fill the positions before the Secretary of Labor can grant a temporary labor certification.