The HIRE Act, reintroduced by Congressman Krishnamoorthi, proposes to double the H-1B cap from 65,000 to 130,000 while boosting U.S. STEM education. Congressman Krishnamoorthi has reintroduced the High-Skilled Immigration Reform for Employment (HIRE) Act to bolster U.S. competitiveness by expanding high-skilled immigration and investing in STEM education.
The legislation supported by ITServe Alliance, the nation’s largest association of IT services organizations, proposes to double the annual cap of 65,000 to 1,30,000. Currently, Congress mandates a 65,000 H-1B visa regular cap and the 20,000 H-1B visa U.S. advanced degree known as the master’s cap.
This comes at a time when President Donald Trump supported H-1B visas in a recent interview, stating that foreign labor is necessary at times because U.S. workers lack specific talents.
In September, Trump signed a proclamation raising the fee that companies have to pay to obtain H-1B worker visas to $100,000. The new $100k H-1B petition fee makes it costlier for US companies seeking qualified workers from abroad.
Simultaneously, a wage-based H-1B system is likely to be introduced soon that modifies the current visa lottery by giving preference to applicants based on their salaries, thus increasing the chances of selection for higher-paying jobs.
H-1B Cap Proposed to be Doubled
Congressman Krishnamoorthi’s bill takes a dual-track approach: expanding access to high-skilled talent from around the world while increasing federal investments in American STEM education to grow the domestic workforce.
The HIRE Act would double the number of H-1B visas available each year—from 65,000 to 130,000— to ensure U.S. employers, including those in critical and emerging technology sectors, can recruit the specialized talent needed to fill persistent workforce shortages.
At the same time, the bill directs new funding to bolster elementary and secondary school science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) programs, helping close the skills gap that continues to limit U.S. economic growth.
The HIRE Act
“To build the jobs and industries of tomorrow, America must stay at the forefront of innovation by strengthening our own workforce while continuing to welcome top talent from around the globe.
The HIRE Act advances both goals by boosting STEM education in our elementary and secondary schools and by expanding the annual supply of H-1B visas from 65,000 to 130,000.
By growing our domestic talent pipeline and ensuring employers can recruit the skilled workers they need, we can create good-paying jobs and secure America’s leadership in the technologies of the future,” Congressman Krishnamoorthi said.
“The HIRE Act is an important step toward modernizing our high-skilled immigration system and ensuring that talented professionals can continue to contribute to America’s innovation economy,” Raghu Chittimalla, Governing Board Chair of ITServe Alliance, said. “Congressman Krishnamoorthi’s leadership reflects a deep understanding of how small and mid-sized IT companies drive job creation and technological growth across the United States.”
“ITServe Alliance fully supports the HIRE Act because it strengthens the pathway for U.S. employers to recruit and retain the best global talent while protecting American workers,” Anju Vallabhaneni, National President of ITServe Alliance, said.