Issa bill reforming H-1B visa system passes committee

The House Judiciary Committee on Wednesday approved bipartisan legislation sponsored by U.S. Rep. Darrell Issa (R-CA) to prevent firms from abusing H-1B visas, which allow U.S. employers to sponsor and hire foreign workers in specialty occupations.

Congressman Issa thinks that outsourcing firms are abusing H-1B visas to bring cheaper labor into the country and undercutting American workers’ wages and job opportunities. With limited numbers of available H-1B visas, he said his bill would ensure the visas are used as intended — by firms recruiting expert workers with specialized skills who aren’t available in the United States.

Specifically, the Protect and Grow American Jobs Act, H.R. 170, would revise the definition of an exempt H-1B non-immigrant worker and update wage requirements. The bill would replace the $60,000 wage exemption and the advanced degree exemption with a new formula that is equal to the lesser of $135,000 or the mean wage for applicants’ occupation in their area. The salary threshold would be adjusted for inflation every third fiscal year.

“Highly skilled individuals that come to America through the H-1B visa program add tremendous value to the U.S. economy. We have a responsibility to ensure this important program isn’t being abused by employers,” Issa said.

“Unfortunately, loopholes in the program have allowed a small handful of employers to game the system to displace American workers and crowd out others who legitimately need the limited slots available to recruit individuals with unique skill sets not available here at home,” he added.

House Judiciary Committee Chairman Bob Goodlatte (R-VA) agreed and said the nation’s immigration programs must put American workers first.

“Unfortunately, that is not the case currently with the H-1B visa program,” said Goodlatte, adding that H.R. 170 would bring “much-needed reforms to the H-1B program to curtail abuse of the system and protect American workers.”

Goodlatte also urged the full House of Representatives to vote to approve the bill.

Additionally, Issa’s bill would increase employer accountability by requiring all H-1B employers to submit a recruitment report summarizing the good faith they took to recruit U.S. workers; the number of U.S. workers who applied for the job; the number of such workers who were offered the job and whether they accepted the offer; and for each worker who was not offered the job, the reason why the job was not offered.

And the U.S. Labor Department would have additional tools to enforce the law under H.R. 170, among other provisions.

H.R. 170, which Issa introduced Jan. 3, currently has nine cosponsors. The bill now heads to the House for consideration and then will be sent to the Senate Judiciary Committee. The full Senate will vote on it if its Judiciary Committee passes it.