IB 

Union Calendar No. 560 

116TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION H. R. 4479 

[Report No. 116–676, Part I] 

To temporarily provide Commonwealth-only transitional worker permits for 

workers in construction occupations involved in disaster recovery, and 

for other purposes. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

SEPTEMBER 24, 2019 

Mr. SABLAN introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Natural Resources, and in addition to the Committee on the 

Judiciary, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in 

each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned 

DECEMBER 18, 2020 

Reported from the Committee on Natural Resources with an amendment 

[Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed in italic] 

DECEMBER 18, 2020 

Committee on the Judiciary discharged; committed to the Committee of the 

Whole House on the State of the Union and ordered to be printed 

[For text of introduced bill, see copy of bill as introduced on September 24, 2019] 


pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS
2 

•HR 4479 RH

A BILL 

To temporarily provide Commonwealth-only transitional 

worker permits for workers in construction occupations 

involved in disaster recovery, and for other purposes. 


pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS
3 

•HR 4479 RH

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 

3 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

4 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Disaster Recovery Work5 force Act’’. 

6 SEC. 2. CONSTRUCTION WORKER PERMITS. 

7 Section 6(d)(3) of the Joint Resolution entitled ‘‘Joint 

8 Resolution to approve the ‘Covenant To Establish a Com9 monwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands in Political 

10 Union with the United States of America’, and for other 

11 purposes’’ (48 U.S.C. 1806(d)(3)) is amended by adding at 

12 the end the following: 

13 ‘‘(E) TYPHOON RECOVERY.— 

14 ‘‘(i) PERMITS FOR CONSTRUCTION

15 WORKERS.—Notwithstanding any numer16 ical cap set forth in subparagraph (B) for 

17 each of fiscal years 2020, 2021, and 2022, 

18 the Secretary of Homeland Security shall 

19 increase by 3,000, for each such fiscal year, 

20 the total number of permits available under 

21 this subsection for Construction and Extrac22 tion Occupations (as defined by the Depart23 ment of Labor as Standard Occupational 

24 Classification Group 47–0000). 


pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS
4 

•HR 4479 RH

1 ‘‘(ii) PERMIT REQUIREMENTS.—The 

2 Secretary may only issue a permit made 

3 available under clause (i) to a prospective 

4 employer if the permit is for an alien 

5 who— 

6 ‘‘(I) is a national of a country 

7 designated eligible to participate in the 

8 program under section 

9 101(a)(15)(H)(ii)(b) of the Immigra10 tion and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 

11 1101(a)(15)(H)(ii)(b)) during calendar 

12 year 2018; and 

13 ‘‘(II) is performing service or 

14 labor pursuant to a contract or sub15 contract for construction, repairs, ren16 ovations, or facility services directly 

17 connected to, or associated with recov18 ery from a presidentially declared 

19 major disaster or emergency (as those 

20 terms are defined in section 102 of the 

21 Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and 

22 Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 

23 5122), or for preparation for a future 

24 disaster or emergency. 


pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS
5 

•HR 4479 RH

1 ‘‘(iii) EXCEPTION FOR CONSTRUCTION

2 WORKERS.—Subparagraph (D)(v) shall not 

3 apply to a permit made available under 

4 clause (i) for any fiscal year described in 

5 such clause.’’. 


pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS
Union Calendar No. 560 

116TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION H. R. 4479 

[Report No. 116–676, Part I] 

A BILL 

To temporarily provide Commonwealth-only transiother purposes. occupations involved in disaster recovery, and for tional worker permits for workers in construction 

DECEMBER 18, 2020 

Reported from the Committee on Natural Resources with 

an amendment 

DECEMBER 18, 2020 

Committee on the Judiciary discharged; committed to the 

Union and ordered to be printed Committee of the Whole House on the State of the 


pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS