Respect for Essential Workers Act
Sponsored By: Representative Cherfilus-McCormick
Introduced
Summary
Creates a pathway to permanent residence for certain Temporary Protected Status (TPS) workers.
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- Covered immigrants who are present under TPS and who work or train in designated essential industries or in health care professions located in Health Resources and Services Administration shortage areas would be protected from removal and would be able to apply to adjust to lawful permanent resident status beginning 90 days after enactment.
- Workers and trainees in listed essential industries such as health care, emergency response, sanitation, food services, hotels and retail, meat and agricultural processing, construction, transportation, and home and community‑based care would be eligible if they meet the bill’s definitions.
- The Secretary of Labor would identify essential industries with labor shortages and the Administrator of the Health Resources and Services Administration would identify qualifying health care shortage areas, which determines who qualifies as a covered worker.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
1 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
Green card path for TPS essential workers
If enacted, the bill would protect people who had Temporary Protected Status (TPS) on the enactment date. You would qualify if you work or train in listed essential industries. You would also qualify if you work in a region the Secretary of Labor finds has a documented labor shortage, or in a health job HRSA designates as in a shortage area. You would not be removed from the United States just because your TPS grant ended. You would be able to apply for lawful permanent resident status (a green card) beginning 90 days after enactment if you meet the bill's covered‑alien rules.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Cherfilus-McCormick
FL • D
Cosponsors
There are no cosponsors for this bill.
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
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