Bill > S2821

This bill, known as the American Tech Workforce Act of 2025, aims to reform the H-1B nonimmigrant visa program by addressing concerns about foreign labor displacement of U.S. workers in the technology sector. The bill terminates the Optional Practical Training (OPT) Program for international students, which currently allows them to work in the U.S. for up to three years after completing their studies without typical payroll tax requirements. It establishes new wage requirements for H-1B visa holders, mandating that employers pay at least $150,000 annually (with future adjustments for inflation) or the same wage paid to a U.S. citizen performing similar work in the previous two years. The bill also imposes stricter conditions on H-1B visas for third-party worksites, limiting visa validity to one year and requiring specific, non-speculative work assignments. Additionally, when approving H-1B visas, the bill requires prioritization of petitions offering higher compensation rates. The legislation is based on findings that 60% of H-1B visas are assigned wages below local median levels and that major tech companies have consistently been the primary recipients of these visas. The bill explicitly prohibits federal agencies from creating work authorization programs not explicitly approved by Congress.

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https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/senate-bill/2821/all-info