Monday, April 24, 2017 – West Des Moines, IA – Given the recently proposed revisions to temporary work and other VISAs, as well as the restaurant industry’s reliance on, and strong support for, the immigrant populations of the United States, the leadership of the Iowa Restaurant Association (IRA) today released a position statement on immigration. The IRA fully supports their national organization’s work with the H-2B Workforce Coalition’s efforts to exempt returning H-2B workers who worked in the United State during the previous fiscal year from being counted in the annual 66,000 cap. The Association’s immigration statement can be found here: www.restaurantiowa.com, and is also available in video form in both English and Spanish on the IRA’s Youtube channel: www.youtube.com/IowaRestaurantAssoc. The videos were created for restaurant employers to circulate to their employees. The Association has published its most recent statewide publication featuring stories of immigrants working in the hospitality industry. The publication can be found online at www.restaurantiowa.com. “The importance of the immigrant workforce in Iowa’s hospitality industry cannot be overstated,” said Jessica Dunker, President & CEO of the Iowa Restaurant Association. “We are the state’s second largest private sector employer and one of the largest employers of immigrant workforce. If we won’t speak up for them, then who will?” For more information or a copy of the Association’s immigration materials, visit www.restaurantiowa.com.

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Iowa Restaurant Association

The Iowa Restaurant Association is an advocacy organization supporting Iowa’s hospitality industry with educational and promotional programs across the state.  www.restaurantiowa.com.

Media Contact: Katelyn Kostek Public Relations Specialist Iowa Restaurant Association Work: 515-276-1454 Cell: 515-988-5102 kkostek@restaurantiowa.com