Press Releases

Today, Congressman Bill Huizenga (R-MI) released the following statement after the House Rules Committee advanced his amendment for consideration before the full U.S. House of Representatives. The Huizenga Amendment blocks any funding for the Biden Administration’s proposal to impose a $600 per petition “Asylum Program Fee” on employers. The Biden Administration’s new fee would significantly raise costs on a wide variety of Michigan job creators across the agricultural and tourism industries who rely on seasonal labor, specifically those who utilize H-2A temporary agricultural workers as well as H-2B temporary non-agricultural workers.

Huizenga’s amendment to H.R. 4367, the Department of Homeland Security Appropriations bill stops the Administration from shifting the cost of President Biden’s failed border policies to small businesses and family farms in Southwest Michigan and across the nation. 

“This proposal by the Biden Administration will hurt agriculture, tourism, and the small businesses that fuel Southwest Michigan’s economy,” said Congressman Bill Huizenga. “Running a family farm, growing a small business, and raising a family in the current economic climate is already challenging enough. The Biden Administration should not be raising costs and billing Southwest Michigan job creators to pay for the President’s failed immigration policies. At the end of the day, this massive new $600 fee will result in higher prices for consumers, farmers, and small businesses which is why I introduced my amendment to stop it.”

Background:

Earlier this year, Congressman Huizenga led a bipartisan effort that was supported by six republicans and six democrats from the Michigan Delegation to oppose the Department of Homeland Security’s new $600 fee being proposed on farmers and small businesses.