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.