House Committee Approves Bipartisan H-1B Visa Reform Bill
Join us and tell your reps how you feel!
The House Judiciary Committee met Wednesday morning to approve the Protect and Grow American Jobs Act, which would overhaul the H-1B visa program.
Currently, the H-1B visa program requires employers to recruit and hire qualified American workers before asking for more H-1B visas, and promise not to layoff U.S. employees to replace them with H-1B workers within a certain timeframe. But employers can avoid those requirements by hiring "exempt" H-1B workers who have earned a masters degree or higher, or would be paid $60,000 or more annually.
The bill, introduced by Reps. Darrell Issa (R-CA) and Scott Peters (D-CA), would eliminate the masters degree exemption and increase the salary threshold to $100,000.
Judiciary Committee Chairman Bob Goodlatte offered the following statement after the bill’s passage on a voice vote:
"Our immigration programs must put American workers and our nation’s interests first, and unfortunately that is not the case currently with the H-1B visa program. The Protect and Grow American Jobs Act makes much-needed reforms to the H-1B program to curtail abuse of the system and protect American workers.”
It’s not yet clear when the bill will be brought to the House floor, but you can read more about it below, or hit the Take Action button to tell your reps whether they should support it.
— Eric Revell
RELATED READING
(Photo Credit: Steven Debenport / iStock)
The Latest
-
IT: 🖋️ Biden signs a bill approving military aid and creating hurdles TikTok, and... Should the U.S. call for a ceasefire?Welcome to Thursday, April 25th, readers near and far... Biden signed a bill that approved aid for Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan, read more...
-
Biden Signs Ukraine, Israel, Taiwan Aid, and TikTok BillWhat’s the story? President Joe Biden signed a bill that approved aid for Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan, which could lead to a ban read more... Taiwan
-
Protests Grow Nationwide as Students Demand Divestment From IsraelUpdated Apr. 23, 2024, 11:00 a.m. EST Protests are growing on college campuses across the country, inspired by the read more... Advocacy
-
IT: Here's how you can help fight for justice in the U.S., and... 📱 Are you concerned about your tech listening to you?Welcome to Thursday, April 18th, communities... Despite being deep into the 21st century, inequity and injustice burden the U.S. read more...