Keep STEM Graduates in America Act of 2024

[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 9023 Introduced in House (IH)]

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118th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                H. R. 9023

            To encourage the growth of America's STEM pool.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             July 11, 2024

 Mr. Thanedar introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
                       Committee on the Judiciary

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
            To encourage the growth of America's STEM pool.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Keep STEM Graduates in America Act 
of 2024''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS AND PURPOSE.

    (a) Findings.--The Congress finds that foreign students pursuing 
degrees in science and technology fields at colleges and universities 
in the United States contribute significantly to American innovation 
and economic growth.
    (b) Purpose.--The purpose of this Act is to encourage talented 
foreign students studying science and technology in the United States 
to remain in the country after graduation by extending the optional 
practical training period, allocating additional H-1B visa quotas, and 
enhancing their chances of securing H-1B visas.

SEC. 3. EXTENSION OF OPT PERIOD.

    (a) Regulations.--Not later than 180 days after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Homeland Security shall revise 
section 214.2(f)(10) of title 8, Code of Federal Regulations, to--
            (1) extend the maximum period of science, technology, 
        engineering, or mathematics (hereinafter known as ``STEM'') 
        optional practical training (hereinafter known as ``OPT'') from 
        29 months to 48 months for an eligible student; and
            (2) extend the period for which an eligible student may 
        apply for OPT from 60 days to 180 days.
    (b) Eligibility.--To be eligible for the extended OPT period under 
subsection (a), an applicant must have earned a degree in a STEM field 
from a institution of higher education in the United States that is 
accredited.
    (c) Definitions.--In this section:
            (1) Eligible student.--The term ``eligible student'' means 
        any student who has earned one or more degrees in a STEM field.
            (2) Institution of higher education.--The term 
        ``institution of higher education'' has the meaning given such 
        term in section 101 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 
        U.S.C. 1001).

SEC. 4. ALLOCATION OF ADDITIONAL H-1B VISAS.

    Section 214(g) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 
1184(g)(1)) is amended by adding at the end the following:
            ``(12) The numerical limitation described in paragraph 
        (1)(A) for a fiscal year shall be increased from 20,000 visas 
        to 30,000 visas for nonimmigrants with a degree in a science, 
        technology, engineering, or mathematics (commonly known as 
        `STEM') field from an institution of higher education in the 
        United States.''.

SEC. 5. REVISION TO H-1B LOTTERY SYSTEM.

    Not later than 270 days after the date of the enactment of this 
Act, the Secretary of Homeland Security shall revise any rules and 
regulations necessary to prioritize registrants in the H-1B 
registration selection process that are nonimmigrants with a degree in 
a science, technology, engineering, or mathematics (commonly known as 
``STEM'') .

SEC. 6. REPORTING REQUIREMENT.

    Not later than one year after the date of enactment of this Act, 
the Secretary of Homeland Security and the Secretary of State shall 
submit a report to Congress assessing the impact of this Act on the 
retention of nonimmigrants with a degree in a science, technology, 
engineering, or mathematics (commonly known as ``STEM'') field from an 
institution of higher education (as such term is defined in section 101 
of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001)).

SEC. 7. EFFECTIVE DATE.

    Unless otherwise specified under this Act, this Act, and any 
amendments made by this Act, shall take effect 90 days after the date 
of enactment.
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