By Sam StevensonShareNewsweek is a Trust Project memberA new bill that would double the number of controversial H-1B visas issued to people emigrating to the U.S. has been reintroduced to Congress.
Democratic Representative Raja Krishnamoorthi of Illinois has reintroduced the High-Skilled Immigration Reform for Employment (HIRE) Act—legislation “designed to strengthen America’s long-term economic and technological competitiveness.”
Newsweek contacted the Department of Labor and the Department of Homeland Security's USCIS via email for comment.
Why It Matters
It comes against the backdrop of heightened scrutiny of the H-1B program under President Donald Trump’s administration, which has implemented stricter enforcement measures and significantly increased application fees.
The outcome of the HIRE Act could reshape hiring practices in technology, healthcare, and research sectors, while influencing the balance between sourcing global talent and protecting American jobs.
...What To Know
Congressman Krishnamoorthi has announced the reintroduction of the HIRE Act, which proposes to raise the cap on new H-1B visas issued each year from 65,000 to 130,000, in an attempt to address persistent workforce shortages in technology and other specialized industries.
In tandem, the legislation would augment federal funds for science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) education in U.S. elementary and secondary schools, seeking to expand the domestic talent pipeline.
The HIRE Act's supporters, including the ITServe Alliance—the nation’s largest association of IT services firms—argue that expansion is vital for U.S. global competitiveness.
Meanwhile, the legislation is introduced as Trump’s administration rolls out stricter oversight, increased compliance enforcement through "Project Firewall," and a $100,000 application fee for new H-1B visas, a move already subject to legal challenges from business groups.
Visa approvals have recently trended toward U.S.-based tech giants rather than Indian outsourcing firms, and most H-1Bs now go to employers hiring fewer than 15 new workers annually.
What People Are Saying
Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi said: “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... 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.”
Raghu Chittimalla, Governing Board Chair of ITServe Alliance, 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.”
Anju Vallabhaneni, National President of ITServe Alliance, said: “This bill advances fairness, transparency, and workforce development—key priorities for both our members and the broader technology industry.”
U.S President Donald Trump said: ”We're not going to be successful if we don't allow people that invest billions of dollars in plants and equipment to bring a lot of their people from their country to get that plant open, operating and working. I'm sorry.”
Stuart Anderson, National Foundation for American Policy executive director, said: “H-1B visas are important because they are typically the only way to hire a high-skilled foreign national long term in the United States, and approximately 70 percent of full-time graduate students in key science and technology fields at U.S. schools are international students.”
Simon Hankinson, of the Trump-backing Heritage Foundation previously said: “It’s past time for Congress to end not only the numerous types of H-1B abuses, but also the administrative state creations that developed the student-to-H-1B-green-card pipeline that adversely affects American students and employees."
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt wrote on X: “President Trump does not support American workers being replaced. He has a nuanced, common sense approach — after those factories are up and running and workers are trained, these companies better be hiring American workers.”
What Happens Next
The HIRE Act’s passage is uncertain. When a bill hits Congress, it kicks off a long journey: first introduced, then sent to a committee for scrutiny and tweaks, before facing debates and votes in both the House and Senate.
Both legislative and administrative changes are likely to shape U.S. employers’ access to critical talent, with ripple effects on American competitiveness in technology, research, and healthcare. Lawmakers will continue to face lobbying from business organizations, industry groups, and advocates on both sides of the issue. The debate over whether to expand or restrict the H-1B program is expected to persist through the next legislative session.
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