The National Association of Landscape Professionals (NALP) held its annual Legislative Day on the Hill in Washington, D.C., on July 21.

More than 100 industry members participated by visiting legislators and their staff members to discuss issues facing the green industry. Some discussion topics included:

• The H-2B program. Industry members called for reforms to the program that would preserve the legality of using seasonal temporary workers, make it easier to hire immigrant workers and verify their legal status and address the “arbitrary cap” on the yearly number of H-2B workers.
• The Waters of the United States rule. The association called for the rule, which expands the scope of waters subject to the Clean Water Act, to be withdrawn and replaced by a “new, less burdensome and expansive rule.”
• The Simplifying Technical Aspects Regarding Seasonality (STARS) Act. The association voiced its support for the act, which would clarify the definition of “seasonal employee” under the Affordable Care Act. The NALP said the STARS act was met with bipartisan support.
• Immigration reform. The association also encouraged congress to pass comprehensive immigration reform, including creating a “mechanism to legalize current workers whose documentation may not be able to be validated.”
• Establishment of the tick-borne diseases committee and research. The NALP asked Congress to support and co-sponsor bills H.R 665 “to provide for the establishment of the Tick-Borne Diseases Advisory Committee,” H.R. 789 “Tick-Borne Disease Research Accountability and Transparency Act of 2015,” and S. 1503 “Lyme and Tick-Borne Disease Prevention, Education and Research Act of 2015.”

Partners in the Legislative Day on the Hill included the National Hispanic Landscape Alliance and the Accredited Snow Contractors Association.