Member News
Check out what ASHA’s doing for the seniors housing industry by clicking on the links below. For additional information related to government affairs or advocacy, please contact Jeanne McGlynn Delgado at [email protected] and Sheff Richey at [email protected]. Questions about the Associations meetings and sponsorship can be directed to Doris Maultsby at [email protected]. For all other inquiries reach out to David Schless, ASHA president & CEO at [email protected].
September 26, 2025
On September 18, Representative Lloyd Smucker (R-PA), along with co-sponsors Representatives Mark Amodei (RNV), Juan Ciscomani (R-AZ), Henry Cuellar (D-TX), Don Davis (D-NC, Andy Harris (R-MD), Mike Kelly (RPA), Maria Salazar (R-FL) and Tom Suozzi (D-NY), reintroduced the Essential Workers for Economic Advancement Act. This critical ASHA-backed legislation marks an important step in addressing chronic workforce shortages by creating a market-driven visa pilot program for year-round, non-farm jobs in occupations that do not require a college degree, including roles in senior living. The Act establishes a new H-2C visa designed to fill essential roles in a way that strengthens compliance, protects U.S. workers, enables employers to create more jobs and expands economic growth.
Key elements of the Essential Workers for Economic Advancement Act include:
- Market-based visa pilot system: A flexible annual cap—up to 85,000 positions--that adjusts based on economic conditions to ensure the program responds to real workforce needs.
- Employer and worker accountability: Employers must meet labor market tests, comply with E-Verify, and secure federal approval before hiring an H-2C worker. Workers must submit a confirmed job offer through the government’s hiring system.
- Full portability: Workers may transfer between approved employers with valid authorizations, protecting them from exploitation and ensuring employers can access talent when shortages persist.
- Stronger compliance tools: An electronic tracking system modeled on existing visa monitoring programs, mandatory studies on economic and labor impacts, and strict limits to ensure visas are used solely to fill workforce gaps.
- Balanced safeguards: Visas are limited in duration, renewable only under defined conditions, and do not authorize family migration, ensuring the program remains focused on meeting essential workforce needs.
ASHA continues to advocate for meaningful immigration reform to mitigate the workforce shortage in the senior living industry. Without an adequate supply of workers such as caregivers, nurses, dining staff and housekeepers, it will become increasingly difficult to meet the needs of the growing number of older adults who will require our services
Click here for ASHA's letter of support to Representative Smucker.
September 17, 2025
On September 17, the Essential Worker Immigration Coalition (EWIC), which includes ASHA as a member, sent a letter of support to Representative Lloyd Smucker (R-PA) and co-sponsors of the Essential Workers for Economic Advancement Act (H.R. 5494).
The legislation provides a practical solution to one of the most pressing challenges facing employers across the country. The Act establishes a new H-2C visa designed to fill these essential roles in a way that strengthens compliance, protects U.S. workers, enables employers to create more jobs and expands economic growth.
Click here for EWIC's statement.
September 4, 2025
ASHA joined with the American Business Immigration Coalition (ABIC), LeadingAge, and the National Continuing Care Residents Association (NaCCRA) in a letter to HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. and the Administrator for the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Dr. Mehmet Oz on the need to address the longstanding shortages in our caregiving workforce. As the Administration’s health care leaders, the letter seeks reconsideration of the recent terminations of the humanitarian programs that have provided legal status and worker authorization, including Temporary Protected Status (TPS). We also called attention to the need to work with Congress on reform legislation that will create new and additional pathways for foreign workers so we can meet the needs of our aging population. Click here for the full letter.
September 2, 2025
ASHA joined a letter to Congress with national real estate associations and organizations representing a broad coalition of housing providers and advocates that are committed to working together with policymakers and the Administration to address America’s housing affordability crisis.
The coalition writes: "First and foremost, we must seek solutions that support increased supply—at all price points. Without investment in our nation’s housing, we will face housing instability and affordability challenges now and in the future."
Click here to read the full letter.
August 25, 2025
The 2025 ASHA 50 includes the latest rankings of the largest 50 U.S. owners (page 10) and largest 50 U.S. operators (page 14) of market rate senior living. This year’s ASHA 50 also includes a timely article about value-based care in senior living (page 20), a special Q&A with Doug Schiffer of Allegro Living and Scott Stewart of Capitol Seniors Housing (page 62), and profiles of two Rising Leaders, Taylor Hernandez of Senior Star (page 83) and Bill Weismiller of Arrow Senior Living (page 85).
The ASHA 50, which is published in cooperation with France Media, also features a list of ASHA member companies (beginning on page 26), updates on Where You Live Matters (page 74) and our advocacy efforts on Capitol Hill (page 77). Click here to read the supplement.
July 17, 2025
On July 17, 2025, ASHA sent a letter in support of the Dignity Act of 2025 (H.R. 4393). ASHA strongly supports the efforts of Representatives Maria Salazar (R-FL), Veronica Escobar (D-TX), and their colleagues in the U.S. House of Representatives who have co-sponsored this meaningful bipartisan immigration reform legislation. It not only addresses the security of the border but proposes a fair and humane process to address the undocumented foreign nationals in this country who are critical to meeting our nation’s workforce needs, especially those who care for our older adults who require long term care.
Click Here for the letter.
July 11, 2025
On July 11, 2025, ASHA joined the Coalition for a Democratic Workplace (CDW) in a letter of support for the Save Local Business Act, which would amend the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA) and the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) to clarify that an entity is only a joint employer if it directly and immediately exercises meaningful control over workers’ essential terms and conditions of employment.
Click here for letter.
June 24, 2025
On June 24, ASHA and Argentum sent a letter to U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem seeking a delay in the termination of humanitarian programs, such as the Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua and Venezuela (CHNV), Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Venezuelans and Haitians, and other programs that are currently providing parolees the ability to live and work in the United States. With the sudden termination of these programs, essential senior living workers are receiving notices to immediately leave their workplace and to self deport. Given the current workforce shortage in senior living, this poses a danger to our residents who rely on these caregivers and other essential workers. Therefore, a one-year delay is urgently requested to allow our communities to appropriately respond to these abrupt changes.
Our workers are key to maintaining the health and wellbeing of the residents they serve, thereby reducing the need for more critical services or hospitalization. When residents of senior living are well cared for, the overall healthcare system benefits. It would be a disservice to our residents who are frail and in need of supportive services, to terminate the programs that have helped to supply our long-term care workforce.
Click here for the full letter
June 18, 2025
On June 18, ASHA and the Essential Worker Immigration Coalition (EWIC) sent a letter to U.S. Department of Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer and U.S. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem requesting they consider policy changes and improvements to policies and programs addressing the critical need for legal channels for essential workers, including:
- Expand and Modernize Visa Programs: Streamline and broaden visa programs to better reflect the year-round and seasonal needs of today’s economy and ensure that legal channels are available for workers in all essential sectors.
- Promote Efficient and Fair Processing: Reduce bureaucratic delays and ensure that employers can quickly and reliably access the talent they need to keep their businesses running and expand economic growth.
- Provide Certainty and Stability: Offer solutions that allow long-serving, trusted essential workers—who have built lives and careers in the U.S.—to continue contributing to our communities if they meet certain qualifications.
June 12, 2025
On June 12, ASHA joined with our real estate partner organizations in a letter to Senate Finance Committee members expressing our concerns relative to the significant impact retaliatory taxes will have on real estate investment and the cost of capital.
Specifically, the coalition requested the Senate revise Section 899, ENFORCEMENT OF REMEDIES AGAINST UNFAIR FOREIGN TAXES of the House passed Budget Reconciliation bill to exempt non-controlling investments in U.S. real estate, regardless of whether those investments are made through equity or debt. We also seek relief for existing transactions and investment that were made and negotiated on well settled current tax rules and treaties.
This provision is designed to retaliate against foreign taxes that discriminate against American businesses. The purpose is to put pressure on foreign governments to reform their unfair practices. However, in doing so, it imposes taxes on inbound investment, creating negative and unintended consequences for the nation’s housing supply, including seniors housing. The higher tax rates triggered by Section 899 would apply broadly to foreign investment in U.S. real estate. The rates would apply to interest income (foreign lenders to U.S. real estate) and dividend income (foreign equity investors in U.S. REITs), as well as direct investments in U.S. real estate. In many cases, Section 899 would result in higher capital gains taxes as well.
If enacted, Section 899 would have a chilling effect on real estate investment and would also impose and new tax burden on U.S. real estate owners and create an unfair retroactive application to current investments.
Click here for the coalition letter.