mr. cunningham, mr. michael cunningham is the executive director and secretary-treasurer of a texas building and construction trade council. he followed his father's footsteps into the heat and frost insulated asbestos workers local number 113 in corpus christi, texas, back in 1972. hean apprentice insulator, has over four decades of experience and has served in a variety of positions, in addition to his other responsibilities, he has worked on issues related to guestworker visa since 2006, fighting to end fraud and abuses in that guestworker program. mr. cunningham, we would be glad to hear from you. mr. cunningham: -- let me ask all of you to rise and take this oath. and raise your right hand. do you affirm that the testimony you are about to give is the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth, so hope you got? please have a seat. mr. cunningham, you can start off. mr. cunningham: thank you, mr. chairman. thank you for scheduling this hearing today on the h-2b program and your opening remarks.

mr. cunningham, you can start off. mr. cunningham: thank you, mr. chairman. thank you for scheduling us for b visaaring on the h2 program. i agree with everything you said in your statement. i was so excited when i was contacted to be a witness at this hearing here today. bringt so much time trend attention to the fraud and abuse .n the h-2b visa program i know there are so many industries that use h-2b visa workers, but my focus is on fraud committed. i found the public isn't aware of how to h-2b visa programs work, and how to tell a company is really trend bring in foreign workers. i found the public isn't really , since 2007 i have been at workshops for unions -- my mission is to teach everyone how to react these jobs and provide an volatiles they need to help research the h-2b job postings. the most important task is to check out the company, if they really are a construction company or labor program. you'll be surprised what we have found over the years. our unions have react to these h-2b postings. we will see many companies advertising with the intent

mr. cunningham, you can start off. >> thank you, mr. chairman. thank you for scheduling this hearing today on the h 2 b visa program and your opening remarks. i agree with the majority of everything you said in your statement. i was excited when i was contacted to be a witness here today. i spent so much time over the last eight years trying to bring attention on the visa program committed by the employer to seek foreign guest workers. so many industries that use the workers, my focus is on the use of fraud by companies and registered agents in the construction industry. i found that the public is not aware of how the programs work and how to tell if a company is trying to bring in foreign workers. i found that the public is not really aware since 2007, i put together workshops for unions and to make them aware of the process. my mission is to teach everyone how to detect for the related work and the geographical jurisdiction and provide all the tools they need for the job postings. the most important task is to check out the company and determin

mr. cunningham -- thank you -- provided to the subcommittee. if there is nothing else, we will stand adjourned. thank you very much. [captions copyright national cable satellite corp. 2016] [captioning performed by the national captioning institute, which is responsible for its caption content and accuracy. visit ncicap.org]

mr. cunningham with the question about the labor force. lael: in the u.s., we are differently situated than many of our foreign partners in the sense that we have been recovering. we have made quite a lot of progress on employment, the labor market has come a long way. we have seen some signs of slowing in the last few months. a little less progress, but nonetheless, we have also seen core inflation around 1.6%, which is below our objective. but, we are seeing progress. we are differently situated relative to some of the other economies, particularly japan and the euro area. we are in a period, in particular, it may be that the neutral rate is low for some period of time, or in a period where there are reasons to one -- 21 aggregate demand -- to want aggregate demand. there may be a case to be made for infrastructure investment complementing the goals we are to retrieve and monetary policy. but, again, those questions about really needing to bolster aggregate demand or even more important in other parts of the world where they have a bigge

mr. cunningham -- thank you -- provided to the subcommittee. if there is nothing else, we will stand adjourned. thank you very much. [captions copyright national cable satellite corp. 2016] [captioning performed by the national captioning institute, which is responsible for its caption content and accuracy. visit ncicap.org] >> good morning it's the washington journal. reports.ngton post here in the u.s. there will be a new member of the house of representatives sworn in today. for johnvis takes over boehner. a busy day for bernie sanders. on c-span andon before that, a meeting with the president to

mr. cunningham you can start off >> thank you mr. chairman. thank you for scheduling this hearing and for your opening remarks.st i agree with most everything you said i know there are so many industries but my focus is on the abuse and fraud. not always sure how the h2 b company works and if the companies try to bring in foreign workers.ne our mission is to teach everyone how to protect for the related work in the jurisdiction and provide them the tools they need the most important task is to check out the company and determine if they really are a construction company.ising wi we have many companies that were advertising with the intent of bringing hb workers in but never finalize the application. they didn't hire any union members but i guess they were able to find enough american workers to do the work the majority of h2 b applications that we come are for welders using their own job family as welders, gutters, solders and others. this. this creates a problem by classifying all the trades that perform welding as a professional welder with

mr. cunningham, thank you, provided to this subcommittee. if there's nothing else, we will stand adjourned. thank you very much. >>> california congressman becerra, the democratic caucus chair, joins us this weekend on "newsmakers." he'll talk about donald trump's impact on down-ballot races in the november elections. watch "newsmakers" sunday 10:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. eastern on c-span. >>> on "american history tv" on c-span3 sunday morning we'll simulcast "washington journal" live from 10:00 to 10:00 p.m. eastern. "the untold story of the campaign that started it all." and then at 10:00 on "road to the white house rewind" the 1976 republican national convention and a close race between president gerald ford and former california governor ronald reagan for the nomination. see ford's acceptance speech and remarks by ronald reagan. >> i believe the republican party has a platform that is a banner of bold, unmistakable colors with no pale pastel shades. >> at 6:00 on "american artifacts" we'll visit the women's equality national monument in was

mr. cunningham raised about income equality in the u.s. and achieving full employment when you see people dropping out of the labor force increasing. >> so in the u.s., we are differently situated than many of the foreign partners in the sense that we have been recovering and we have made progress on employment leg of our mandate. the labor market has come along way although we have seen signs of slowing in the last few months. a little bit less progress but nonetheless, we've also seen core inflation around 1.6% which is below our objective. but we are seeing progress. and so we are differently situated relative to some of the other economies, particularly japan and the euro area. nonetheless, in a period where in particular it may be that the neutral rate is low for some period of time in a period where there are reasons to want to both support aggregate demand in the short run and the potential of economy and the productivity in the longer run, there may be a case to be made for instance for infrastructure investment, complementing the

mr. cunningham with the question about the labor force. lael: in the u.s., we are differently situated than many of our foreign partners in the sense that we have been recovering. we have made quite a lot of progress on employment, the labor market has come a long way. we have seen some signs of slowing in the last few months. a little less progress, but nonetheless, we have also seen core inflation around 1.6%, which is below our objective. but, we are seeing progress. we are differently situated relative to some of the other economies, particularly japan and the euro area. we are in a period, in particular, it may be that the neutral rate is low for some period of time, or in a period where there are reasons to want aggregate demand. there may be a case to be made for infrastructure investment complementing the goals we are to retrieve and monetary policy. but, again, those questions about really needing to bolster aggregate demand or even more important in other parts of the world where they have a bigger challenge. >> i am afraid we ha

mr. cunningham. thank you. provided to the subcommittee. if there is nothing else, we will stand adjourned. thank you very much. >>> and on c-span3 this morning, we take you live to the nation's capitol and the annual faith and freedom coalition policy conference. on your screen is the had head of the faith and freedom coalition, introducing the program this morning. you'll hear this morning from members of congress including the majority leader in the senate. mitch mcconnell. carly fiorina and later donald trump will wrap up at about 12:30 eastern. just getting started, live coverage on c-span3. >> over the next five months, there is going to be all kinds of decisions made, all kinds of conversations had, and movement. we believe in the direction of godliness and right ousness in america, both politically and also just culturally. so we believe this conference and others like this across the country are key cogs in helping to facilitate that. as we get started, we begin the program, i want to lay a few kind of ground rules here. obviously

mr. hardy rose. also, the mayor's budget staff without jason cunningham and the members of the board of supervisors did we are in concurrence. >> okay, thanks. mr. roseburg 07 occ >> that is correct. no recommended reductions. >> okay get think you for being here. colleagues, any questions or comments for occ? thank you for doing all way you do. >> thank you very much >> we have a few that are actually in attendance we want to knock out a quick but also in agreement. a superior court is here. >> good morning, supervisor mike york could all make this very brief. we are in full agreement with the budget and legislative analyst so happy to take any questions you get >> okay. thank you. good to see you back. colleagues, any questions? mr. rose can we go to report on our secure court? >> yes on page 11 our recommend a reduction to the proposed budget total $100,000 and 16-17 their ongoing savings were also recommend closing upright your unexpended encumbrances 7000 or so that's total general fund savings of $107,000 and 17-recommended reduction is again total $100,000 which are ongoing savings and as unders

mr. hardy rose. also, the mayor's budget staff without jason cunningham and the members of the board of supervisors did we are in concurrence. >> okay, thanks. mr. roseburg 07 occ >> that is correct. no recommended reductions. >> okay get think you for being here. colleagues, any questions or comments for occ? thank you for doing all way you do. >> thank you very much >> we have a few that are actually in attendance we want to knock out a quick but also in agreement. a superior court is here. >> good morning, supervisor mike york could all make this very brief. we are in full agreement with the budget and legislative analyst so happy to take any questions you get >> okay. thank you. good to see you back. colleagues, any questions? mr. rose can we go to report on our secure court? >> yes on page 11 our recommend a reduction to the proposed budget total $100,000 and 16-17 their ongoing savings were also recommend closing upright your unexpended encumbrances 7000 or so that's total general fund savings of $107,000 and 17-recommended reduction is again total $100,000 which are ongoing savings and as unders

mr. hardy rose. also, the mayor's budget staff without jason cunningham and the members of the board of supervisors did we are in concurrence. >> okay, thanks. mr. roseburg 07 occ >> that is correct. no recommended reductions. >> okay get think you for being here. colleagues, any questions or comments for occ? thank you for doing all way you do. >> thank you very much >> we have a few that are actually in attendance we want to knock out a quick but also in agreement. a superior court is here. >> good morning, supervisor mike york could all make this very brief. we are in full agreement with the budget and legislative analyst so happy to take any questions you get >> okay. thank you. good to see you back. colleagues, any questions? mr. rose can we go to report on our secure court? >> yes on page 11 our recommend a reduction to the proposed budget total $100,000 and 16-17 their ongoing savings were also recommend closing upright your unexpended encumbrances 7000 or so that's total general fund savings of $107,000 and 17-recommended reduction is again total $100,000 which are ongoing savings and as unders

mr. cunningham, you can start off. mr. cunningham: thank you, mr. chairman. thank you for scheduling us for b visaaring on the h2 program. i agree with everything you said in your statement. i was so excited when i was contacted to be a witness at this hearing here today. bringt so much time trend attention to the fraud and abuse .n the h-2b visa program i know there are so many industries that use h-2b visa workers, but my focus is on fraud committed. i found the public isn't aware of how to h-2b visa programs work, and how to tell a company is really trend bring in foreign workers. i found the public isn't really , since 2007 i have been at workshops for unions -- my mission is to teach everyone how to react these jobs and provide an volatiles they need to help research the h-2b job postings. the most important task is to check out the company, if they really are a construction company or labor program. you'll be surprised what we have found over the years. our unions have react to these h-2b postings. we will see many companies advertising with the intent