March 26, 2021 10 W Lafayette Street Trenton, NJ 08608-2002 Congressman Donald Norcross Congressman Jeff Van Drew 609-393-7707 2437 Rayburn House Office Building 331 Cannon House Office Building www.njbia.org Washington, DC 20515 Washington, DC 20515

Congressman Andy Kim Congressman Christopher Smith 1516 Longworth House Office Building 2373 Rayburn House Office Building Washington, DC 20515 Washington, DC 20515 Michele N. Siekerka, Esq. President and CEO Congressman Josh Gottheimer Congressman Frank Pallone Christine Buteas 213 Cannon House Office Building 2107 Rayburn House Office Building Chief Government Affairs Officer Washington, DC 20515 Washington, DC 20515

Raymond Cantor Congressman Tom Malinowski Congressman Albio Sires Vice President 426 Cannon House Office Building 2268 Rayburn House Office Building Christopher Emigholz Washington, DC 20515 Washington, DC 20515 Vice President Congressman William J. Pascrell, Jr. Congressman Donald M. Payne, Jr. Nicole Sandelier Director of Economic 2409 Cannon House Office Building 103 Cannon House Office Building Policy Research Washington, DC 20515 Washington, DC 20515

Hunter Griffin Congresswoman Mikie Sherrill Congresswoman Bonnie Watson Coleman Policy Analyst 1208 Longworth House Office Building 2442 Rayburn Office Building Washington, DC 20515 Washington, DC 20515

RE: J-1 Visa Processing and Interviews

Dear New Jersey Congressional House Representatives,

On behalf of our member companies that provide 1 million jobs in the state and make the New Jersey Business & Industry Association (NJBIA) the largest statewide business association in the country, NJBIA urges you to request of Secretary of State Blinken that uniform guidance be issued directing our embassies to interview and process J-1 visa applicants. This is an urgent appeal given that applicants need to be processed in time for the quickly approaching summer university holiday.

The BridgeUSA Summer Work Travel program is critical to New Jersey’s economic recovery, especially for the state’s tourism industry and the communities that rely on its commercial activity. The thousands of J-1 students that visit annually through the Summer Work Travel program form a crucial component of the state’s seasonal workforce that supplements and supports local hires. However, the program’s implementation for the 2021 summer season is in serious jeopardy after being halted by the pandemic and Presidential Proclamation 10052.

Without the program’s crucial supply of seasonal hires, many New Jersey businesses will not have enough workers to operate their full hours or open all their facilities. This would seriously undermine their ability to generate revenues needed to sustain their full-time employee core, make necessary investments in their businesses, and, in some cases, even survive. If these businesses cannot operate effectively, New Jersey could see its recovery falter just as we begin to see a new normal this summer.

With borders reopening and more people comfortable with travel and entertainment, we cannot lose another year of opportunity. The pandemic has left many of New Jersey’s businesses struggling, with many barely staying afloat. As such, the 2021 summer season is crucial for many establishments’ survival and revitalization. The prioritization of J-1 visa applicant interviews and processing will ensure that New Jersey businesses have access to the seasonal workforce they need to drive our recovery this summer. With your assistance, we can continue to move New Jersey’s economy forward.

If you have any questions, please contact me at [email protected].

Sincerely,

Chrissy Buteas Chief Government Affairs Officer