(UNITED STATES) The National Roofing Contractors Association (NRCA) is urging roofing companies and workers to back H.R. 5494, the Essential Workers for Economic Advancement Act, a bipartisan bill introduced in 2025 that would create a new H-2C visa for year-round, non‑agricultural, non‑degree jobs. The measure aims to ease chronic labor shortages across roofing and other trades by opening a legal channel for “essential” foreign workers while adding employer checks and worker protections. The bill is pending in the House as of October 2025, with industry groups pushing for swift action.
Introduced by Rep. Lloyd Smucker (R‑Pa.) with nine bipartisan cosponsors, H.R. 5494 would authorize a new H-2C visa targeted to occupations in O*NET Zones 1–3 in areas where unemployment is 7.9% or lower. Supporters argue that this narrow focus helps match visas to real workforce needs without displacing U.S. workers.
Key program design points include:
- An initial cap of 65,000 visas in year one.
- Future caps adjustable between 45,000 and 85,000.
- A reservation of at least 25% of visas for small businesses—important for roofing contractors who often run lean operations.
Under the bill, employers must demonstrate attempts to hire U.S. workers first. Required steps include posting open roles with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), documenting recruitment, and using E-Verify to confirm work authorization. For companies used to the seasonal H-2B process, these added steps will feel familiar, but the year-round design of the H-2C visa is the key change. That shift could be decisive in roofing, where work often spans all seasons and weather-driven repairs can’t wait for limited filing windows.
What’s in the bill and why roofing leaders care
NRCA frames H.R. 5494 as a “practical, long-term fix” for a workforce gap that slows projects and raises costs for homeowners and businesses. The association estimates shortages cost the U.S. roofing industry $9.5–$19 billion in lost annual growth.
Wage and labor context:
- Median roofer pay reached $50,970 in May 2024, showing strong demand.
- Despite rising pay, contractors report continued difficulty filling crews.
- NRCA says the H-2C visa would bring stability by creating a lawful, monitored pathway for essential jobs that don’t require a college degree.
Built-in safeguards aim to protect both workers and employers:
- Worker protections:
- Whistleblower protections.
- Ban on misclassification as independent contractors.
- Portability allowing a visa holder to change employers after one year (reduces “job lock” and potential abuse).
- Employer protections:
- E-Verify + DHS oversight for clearer rules and less guesswork.
Supporters argue these guardrails are stronger than older visa categories and reflect lessons learned from the H-2B system.
Additional limits and oversight:
- H-2C visa holders would be ineligible for certain federal public benefits.
- The U.S. Census Bureau would report program outcomes to Congress, adding transparency and enabling Congress to recalibrate cap/eligibility rules based on real-world impact (per analysis by VisaVerge.com).
Industry support extends beyond roofing. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce and Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) have endorsed the bill, signaling broad construction-sector interest in a steady pipeline of legal labor.
Labor advocates remain cautious. They point to the H-2B program’s history of wage issues and enforcement gaps and argue for expanding permanent-resident options instead of adding another temporary visa. They want more green-card pathways for long-term workers who put down roots. Supporters of H.R. 5494 counter that the bill’s stronger guardrails (E-Verify, DHS position registration, anti-misclassification rules, portability) directly address many of those concerns.
Impact on contractors, workers, and communities
For small roofing firms, the reserved 25% share of visas could be pivotal. Many small businesses lack full-time HR teams and miss out in tight filing races. A set-aside would give them a fair shot at hiring needed roofers, installers, and repair specialists.
How the program could help in practice:
- Contractors could plan work more confidently and clear backlogs faster.
- Pricing could stabilize for customers nationwide.
- Caps adjustable between 45,000–85,000 after year one allow Congress to respond to demand spikes (storms, fires, heat waves) without overcorrecting.
- The 7.9% unemployment threshold acts as a brake—if local joblessness rises, access to H-2C visas would be constrained, pushing employers to recruit locally.
Worker protections address common pain points:
- Whistleblower safeguards encourage reporting of unsafe worksites, unpaid overtime, or illegal deductions—issues that honest employers also want eliminated.
- The ban on independent contractor misclassification prevents shifting lawful costs onto workers and stops bad actors from undercutting fair employers.
- Portability after one year offers a lawful exit if a job turns out poorly, reducing exploitation risk.
Practical effects on everyday people:
- Foremen might no longer have to turn down contracts because they can’t assemble trained crews.
- Homeowners with leaking roofs could face shorter waits and lower costs.
- Employers would still need to follow strict hiring steps and pay lawful wages, but would have a clearer path to fill essential roles.
NRCA actions and next steps for employers
NRCA is mobilizing members through its Grassroots Advocacy Network and an Employer Immigration Resources page with plain-language tools. The association asks roofing professionals to contact their representatives and urge a vote for H.R. 5494, arguing the industry needs reliable labor to provide “affordable, life-sustaining shelter” and support the broader economy.
Employers considering future participation should:
- Review E-Verify requirements now. Program details, enrollment, and tutorials are available from the Department of Homeland Security’s official site at E-Verify.
- Prepare internal systems early: job postings, recruitment records, and training will make compliance smoother if the H-2C visa becomes law.
Important: The House has not scheduled a final vote. With bipartisan sponsors, strong industry backing, and built-in safeguards, H.R. 5494 is positioned to be a central piece of the current workforce debate. Whether it passes as drafted or with amendments, the outcome will shape how roofing and other essential trades meet demand in the year ahead.
This Article in a Nutshell
H.R. 5494, introduced in 2025 with bipartisan support, would establish a new H-2C visa to provide year-round, non‑agricultural workers for essential trades such as roofing. The program targets O*NET Zones 1–3 in areas with unemployment of 7.9% or lower, starts with a 65,000 visa cap in year one, and allows subsequent caps between 45,000 and 85,000. At least 25% of visas are reserved for small businesses. Employers must recruit U.S. workers, register vacancies with DHS, document recruitment efforts, and use E-Verify. The bill adds worker protections—whistleblower safeguards, anti-misclassification rules, and portability after one year—and DHS reporting to Congress. Industry groups including NRCA, U.S. Chamber of Commerce, and ABC support the bill; labor advocates urge more permanent-resident pathways. NRCA is mobilizing members to contact representatives while the House reviews the measure as of October 2025.
