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To permanently authorize the exemption of aliens working as fish processors from the numerical limitation on H-2B nonimmigrant visas.
Summary
This bill permanently exempts foreign workers employed as fish processors from the annual numerical cap on H-2B nonimmigrant (temporary worker) visas. The exemption applies to workers engaged in fish roe processing, fish roe technician work, supervisory roles in fish processing facilities, and general fish processing positions, including handling, preparing, freezing, and packing fish and seafood products. The bill defines fish broadly to include fresh and saltwater finfish, mollusks, crustaceans, and other aquatic animal life and their roe, but excludes marine mammals and birds. The bill also repeals a previous temporary provision on this exemption, making the current exemption permanent. This allows seafood processing employers to hire foreign workers for these positions without being limited by the overall H-2B visa cap.
AI-generated plain-language summary of the bill text — neutral, and may be imperfect. See the full text below for the exact wording.
Sponsor (1)
- Sen. Murkowski, Lisa [R-AK] (R-AK)
7 cosponsors
- Sen. Alsobrooks, Angela D. [D-MD] (D-MD)
- Sen. Cassidy, Bill [R-LA] (R-LA)
- Sen. Kaine, Tim [D-VA] (D-VA)
- Sen. Kennedy, John [R-LA] (R-LA)
- Sen. Tillis, Thomas [R-NC] (R-NC)
- Sen. Van Hollen, Chris [D-MD] (D-MD)
- Sen. Warner, Mark R. [D-VA] (D-VA)
Actions (2)
- Apr 3, 2025 Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. · senate
- Apr 3, 2025 Introduced in Senate
Similar bills (6)
Bills with similar text or summary — includes reintroductions across Congresses. Ranked by semantic similarity of the bill text (computed locally); a neutral discovery aid, not a claim the bills are duplicates.
Full text
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
April 3, 2025
Ms. Murkowski (for herself, Mr. Kaine, Mr. Warner, Mr. Van Hollen, Mr. Kennedy, Mr. Cassidy, Mr. Tillis, and Ms. Alsobrooks) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary
A BILL
To permanently authorize the exemption of aliens working as fish processors from the numerical limitation on H-2B nonimmigrant visas.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the “Save Our Seafood Act”.
SEC. 2. EXEMPTION OF ALIENS WORKING AS FISH PROCESSORS FROM THE NUMERICAL LIMITATION ON H-2B NONIMMIGRANT VISAS.
(a) In General.—Section 214(g)(10) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1184(g)(10)) is amended—
(1) by striking “The numerical limitations of paragraph
(1)(B)” and inserting “(A) The numerical limitation under paragraph (1)(B)”; and
(2) by adding at the end the following:
“(B)(i) The numerical limitation under paragraph (1)(B) shall not apply to any nonimmigrant alien issued a visa or otherwise provided status under section 101(a)(15)(H)(ii)(b) who is employed (or has received an offer of employment)—
“(I) as a fish roe processor, a fish roe technician, or a supervisor of fish roe processing; or
“(II) as a fish processor.
“(ii) As used in clause (i)—
“(I) the term ‘fish’ means fresh or saltwater finfish, mollusks, crustaceans, and all other forms of aquatic animal life, including the roe of such animals, other than marine mammals and birds; and
“(II) the term ‘processor’— “(aa) means any person engaged in the processing of fish, including handling, storing, preparing, heading, eviscerating, shucking, freezing, changing into different market forms, manufacturing, preserving, packing, labeling, dockside unloading, holding, and all other processing activities; and “(bb) does not include any person engaged in— “(AA) harvesting or transporting fish or fishery products without otherwise engaging in processing; “(BB) practices such as heading, eviscerating, or freezing intended solely to prepare a fish for holding on board a harvest vessel; or
“(CC) operating a retail establishment.”.
(b) Repeal.—Section 14006 of the Department of Defense Appropriations Act, 2005 (Public Law 108-287) is repealed. <all>
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