Indian-origin Democratic Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi has reintroduced the High-Skilled Immigration Reform for Employment (HIRE) Act amid growing scrutiny of the H-1B visa programme under the Trump administration.
Krishnamoorthi said the legislation would help the United States remain a global leader in innovation by supporting both local and international talent.
“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,” Congressman Krishnamoorthi said.
The bill could change hiring patterns in key fields like technology, healthcare, and research, helping employers fill jobs that require highly specialised skills.
According to his office, “The HIRE Act would double the number of H-1B visas available each year, from 65,000 to 130,000, to ensure US employers, including those in critical and emerging technology sectors, can recruit the specialised talent needed to fill persistent workforce shortages.”
The legislation would also increase federal funding to improve Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) education in American elementary and secondary schools.
Who is Raja Krishnamoorthi?
Raja Krishnamoorthi is an Indian-American Congressman representing Illinois’s 8th congressional district has served in US House of Representatives since 2017.
Born in New Delhi, India, in 1973, Raja moved to the United States as a child and grew up in Chicago. He went on to earn a bachelor’s degree from Princeton University, and later a law degree from Harvard Law School.
Before entering Congress, he worked as Illinois Deputy Treasurer, served as policy director for Governor Rod Blagojevich, and held the post of Cook County Comptroller.
He has worked on causes including education, workforce development, technology oversight, and national security. Moorthi helped lead the legislation behind modernising vocational training in America through the Strengthening Career and Technical Education for the 21st Century Act, which became law in 2018.
As of August 2025, Raja Krishnamoorthi’s estimated net worth is around US $3.9 million, placing him among the more affluent members of Congress.
According to his financial disclosures, a large share of his wealth is invested in retirement funds (Vanguard Target Retirement funds — 2040, 2045, 2060) via Schwab accounts.
He also owns a rental property in Chicago (Unit 408 at 3260 N Clark St), valued at up to US $500,000, Quiver quantitative reported.
Over the years, his net worth has steadily increased. It was about US $1.58 million in 2018, US $2.2 million in 2017, US $3.7 million in April 2025,culminating in the Rs 3.9 million estimate this August.
Bill resurfaced as fraud allegations grow
Krishnamoorthi’s statement comes shortly after new claims about fraud in the H-1B system, especially in India. Indian-American diplomat Mahvash Siddiqui claimed 80–90% of Indian H-1B applications are fraudulent, and former Congressman and economist Dave Brat said the US consulate in Chennai alone issued around 220,000 visas, far higher than the national limit.
What is HIRE act?
For many workers in the U.S., outsourcing feels like their jobs are being shipped away piece by piece. The HIRE Act wants to change that story.
By placing a 25% tax on companies that send work overseas, the bill pushes businesses to keep jobs at home. The money raised would go directly into training and upskilling American workers, helping them build careers in industries that are rapidly changing.
Hence, if companies depend on American customers, they should also support American livelihoods.
