Nick Begich opposes the use of foreign seasonal workers under the H-1B visa program in Alaska's fishing industry, advocating for prioritizing Alaskan workers due to a 4% state unemployment rate (Daily Sitka Sentinel, Fairbanks Daily News-Miner).
In contrast, Rep. Mary Peltola supports continuing the practice of hiring foreign seasonal workers for Alaska's seafood processing industry.
Begich's position highlights a focus on local employment, emphasizing that available jobs should go to Alaskans before hiring individuals from outside the nation.
When discussing the Laken Riley Act, Begich did not provide details on how the legislation would affect Alaska specifically, which could be seen as a lack of clarity or specificity on local impacts (NBC - 2 KTUU).
Begich's stance may be vulnerable to criticism from business groups that rely on foreign labor to fill workforce shortages in seasonal industries.
October 2024: Begich Opposed Use Of Foreign Seasonal Workers In Alaska's Fishing Industry According to Daily Sitka Sentinel, "Seafood processors frequently bring in seasonal labor under the H-IB visa program, and Peltola said she supports continuing the practice. Begich opposes it. 'There's a 4% unemployment rate in Alaska. I want to make sure that we're prioritizing Alaskans who want to work first, before we start prioritizing people from outside of our nation to come in and take those jobs,' he said." [Daily Sitka Sentinel, 10/9/24]
October 2024: Nick Begich Opposed Use of H-1B Visa Program For Foreign Fishing Industry Workers According to Fairbanks Daily News-Miner (Alaska), "Begich and Peltola differ on the use of foreign workers in Alaska's fishing industry. Seafood processors frequently bring in seasonal labor under the H-1B visa program, and Peltola said she supports continuing the practice. Begich opposes it. 'There's a 4% unemployment rate in Alaska. I want to make sure that we're prioritizing Alaskans who want to work first, before we start prioritizing people from outside of our nation to come in and take those jobs,' he said." [Fairbanks Daily News-Miner (Alaska), 10/10/24]
January 2025: Begich Did Not Specify Laken Riley Act's Impact On Alaska According to NBC - 2 KTUU, "In his statement, Begich did not say how the act could impact Alaska." [NBC - 2 KTUU, 1/10/25]