U.S. Rep. Blake Moore (R-UT) on June 7 unveiled a bipartisan resolution that would provide congressional support for BridgeUSA, a work-and-study-based exchange visa program.
According to the U.S. State Department, BridgeUSA — formerly the Exchange Visitor J-1 Visa Program — annually attracts around 300,000 individuals to the United States from 200 countries and territories to study in U.S. high schools, universities, and research institutions; build professional networks; enhance English language and intercultural skills; and teach in U.S. schools, colleges, and universities.
“Communities across Utah take advantage of the BridgeUSA programs with great success, and they deserve Congress’s full support,” Rep. Moore said. “These work and study exchange programs have opened up amazing opportunities and experiences in America for hundreds of thousands of foreigners while also supplementing our workforce and supporting our businesses. States like Utah that rely on a seasonal workforce to fuel local tourism need programs like these to ensure economic growth.”
Rep. Moore sponsored H.Res. 481 with four original cosponsors, including U.S. Rep. Annie Kuster (D-NH), to express the sense of the U.S. House of Representatives that BridgeUSA exchange programs are vital to the economy and national interests of the United States, and that Congress should prioritize robust support to ensure equitable opportunities for Americans and people from other countries, according to the text of the resolution.
“The BridgeUSA program plays a critical role in New Hampshire’s tourism economy and our communities. The work-and study-based exchange visa program attracts foreign visitors, students, and workers to our state and strengthens cultural understanding,” said Rep. Kuster. “We must invest in the BridgeUSA program to bolster our economy and enrich our communities for years to come. I am proud to join with my colleagues from across the aisle to ensure that is the case.”
The resolution has garnered support from numerous organizations, including the Alliance for International Exchange, the American Camp Association, the American Hotel & Lodging Association, the American International Recruitment Council, and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, among many other local, state, tribal, and national groups and chambers, as well as numerous businesses and program sponsors.