# 119-hr-5098: Strengthening Our Workforce Act of 2025

119-hr-5098, Strengthening Our Workforce Act of 2025, is a 119th Congress bill sponsored by Rep. Vasquez, Gabe [D-NM-2] (D-NM); status introduced (as of 2026-04-21).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-5098
- As of: 2026-04-21
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: 119-hr-5098
- Congress: 119
- Title: Strengthening Our Workforce Act of 2025
- Status: introduced
- Introduced: 2025-09-02
- Sponsor: Rep. Vasquez, Gabe [D-NM-2] (D-NM)
- Cosponsors: 4
- Policy area: Immigration
- Touches household money: no
- Last recorded action: 2026-04-21

## 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. - 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.

## Cosponsors (4)

- Rep. Craig, Angie [D-MN-2] (D-MN), 2025-09-02T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Vargas, Juan [D-CA-52] (D-CA), 2025-09-02T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Ramirez, Delia C. [D-IL-3] (D-IL), 2025-09-02T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Velázquez, Nydia M. [D-NY-7] (D-NY), 2025-09-02T00:00:00.000Z

## Provisions PRIA read

- Two-year conditional residency with work permit: benefit, high. 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 backgroun…
- Which jobs count toward eligibility: benefit, medium. 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 to keep status and criminal bars: mixed, high. 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 m…
- Who can apply and fees: mixed, high. 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 woul…

## Related bills

- 119-hr-9877: Health Equity and Accountability Act of 2026
- 119-hr-7977: Energy Bills Relief Act
- 119-hr-7973: Momnibus Act
- 119-hr-7853: PrEP Access and Coverage Act of 2026
- 119-hr-51: Washington, D.C. Admission Act
- 119-hr-20: Richard L. Trumka Protecting the Right to Organize Act of 2025

## Sources
- [119-hr-5098 on Congress.gov](https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/5098)

## Related
- [119-hr-9877: Health Equity and Accountability Act of 2026](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-9877)
- [119-hr-7977: Energy Bills Relief Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-7977)
- [119-hr-7973: Momnibus Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-7973)
- [119-hr-7853: PrEP Access and Coverage Act of 2026](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-7853)
- [119-hr-51: Washington, D.C. Admission Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-51)
- [119-hr-20: Richard L. Trumka Protecting the Right to Organize Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-20)
- [All bills in Congress](https://policyrisk.com/legislation)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-5098 (as of 2026-04-21).