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119-hr-5098119th Congress

Strengthening Our Workforce Act of 2025

Sponsored By: Representative Vasquez, Gabe [D-NM-2]

Introduced

Summary

Would create a two-year conditional lawful permanent residency pathway for certain long-present essential workers. It would grant employment authorization during the conditional period and set eligibility rules and waivers that can lead to full lawful permanent resident status.

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  • Workers and families: People physically present in the United States as of January 1, 2024 who have worked at least 100 cumulative days in a covered profession would be eligible for a two-year conditional lawful permanent resident (LPR) status and a concurrent work permit. The bill allows waivers of certain inadmissibility grounds for humanitarian reasons, family unity, or public interest.
  • Sectors and employers: Covered professions include health care, emergency response, energy, education, sanitation, hospitality, agriculture, construction, domestic care, manufacturing, transportation, and related essential roles. The definition explicitly covers remote and hybrid work and lets the Department of Homeland Security use federal or state guidance to recognize other essential jobs.
  • Administration and conversion: The Secretary of Homeland Security would run the program, set fees, and may waive specified grounds in INA section 212(a) with limits for some misdemeanors. When the conditional period ends the Secretary would immediately adjust the person's status to lawful permanent resident unless the person timely objects, pays the required fee, and passes an additional background check.

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

4 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 0 costs, 2 mixed.

Two-year conditional residency with work permit

If enacted, this would create a new two-year conditional resident status. You would get work permission during that period. When the two years end, DHS would make you a full permanent resident unless you object in writing. To adjust, you would need to pay a fee set by DHS and pass another background check. People adjusted under this section would not count against normal worldwide visa caps.

Rules to keep status and criminal bars

If enacted, to keep conditional status you would need to stay in the U.S. the whole time. You would need at least 100 days of work each year for two years in a covered job. You would be subject to the usual deportability rules. Some criminal histories would block eligibility: any felony, three or more misdemeanors (with some cannabis and minor traffic exceptions), or a domestic violence misdemeanor unless you show you were a victim. DHS could waive some inadmissibility grounds for humanitarian, family unity, or the public interest, and may forgive one or two older misdemeanors.

Who can apply and fees

If enacted, you could apply if you were in the U.S. on January 1, 2024. You must have been here without lawful status, with DACA, or with a work‑authorized nonimmigrant status. You must have stayed here continuously since January 1, 2024 and have at least 100 days of work in a covered job. You would file the DHS form and pay fees set by DHS. You must also not be barred by certain inadmissibility rules; some waivers could apply.

Which jobs count toward eligibility

If enacted, the bill would define which jobs count as covered. It lists health care, emergency response, energy, education, sanitation, food service, hospitality, farming, construction, manufacturing, transport, janitorial, and more. It includes workers deemed essential by federal, state, or local rules, and can include remote or hybrid roles. It also defines felony and misdemeanor for these rules.

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

Vasquez, Gabe [D-NM-2]

NM • D

Cosponsors

  • Rep. Craig, Angie [D-MN-2]

    MN • D

    Sponsored 9/2/2025

  • Rep. Vargas, Juan [D-CA-52]

    CA • D

    Sponsored 9/2/2025

  • Rep. Ramirez, Delia C. [D-IL-3]

    IL • D

    Sponsored 9/2/2025

  • Rep. Velázquez, Nydia M. [D-NY-7]

    NY • D

    Sponsored 9/2/2025

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

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