July 7, 2015 — LOUISIANA — The Departments of Labor and Homeland Security are out of touch with what makes the Louisiana economy tick. Traveling across our state and talking to small business owners, I keep hearing that despite what regulations may come down from Washington, in the real world businesses have to work with the hand they’re dealt.

Unfortunately, arbitrary, nontransparent and inflexible methods the Department of Homeland Security uses to manage statutory caps on legal seasonal labor supporting Louisiana workers are limiting businesses’ options to the breaking point.

Not long ago, I was speaking with Frank Randol, a leader in the Louisiana seafood industry from my hometown of Lafayette and owner of the iconic Randol’s Seafood Restaurant.  Frank relies on workers from other countries who come to America under the H-2B visa program, a temporary guest worker program that allows these workers to come to our country for a defined period of time to support and augment our workforce.  A recent study shows that for every H-2B visa issued, four American jobs are sustained.  Additionally, the Brookings Institution shows that Louisiana is one of the highest users of the H-2B visa program per capita in the country.

Read the full story at The Times-Picayune