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119-hr-6487119th Congress

SECURE STEM Act

Sponsored By: Representative Harrigan, Pat [R-NC-10]

Introduced

Summary

Restricts access to key U.S. STEM visa programs for nationals of five countries to protect research and national security. This bill would bar issuance and admission for covered foreign nationals under several nonimmigrant visa categories and prohibit their employment at federal research labs unless waived.

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  • Students and researchers from the People’s Republic of China, the Russian Federation, the Islamic Republic of Iran, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, and Cuba would be ineligible for H-1B, O, J, and certain student visas (F, J, M) unless an individual waiver is granted.
  • National research laboratories would be barred from employing covered foreign nationals who are present in the United States on a covered visa at the date of enactment. Employers could seek a joint waiver from the Secretary of State and the Secretary of Homeland Security when an individual case is determined to be in the U.S. national interest.
  • The Secretary of State, in consultation with the Department of Homeland Security, would report to specified congressional committees twice a year on waivers, including counts, justifications, and biographical details such as prior affiliations with foreign state-sponsored institutions, and agencies must issue implementing rules within 90 days of enactment.

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

1 provisions identified: 0 benefits, 1 costs, 0 mixed.

Limits visas, lab jobs for certain countries

If enacted, this bill would block visas and U.S. admission for nationals of China, Russia, Iran, North Korea, and Cuba. The ban would apply to people seeking H-1B, O, J, or student visas. National research labs would be barred from hiring those covered foreign nationals present in the U.S. at enactment. The Secretary of State and the Secretary of Homeland Security could jointly waive the ban for a named person. They would have to find the waiver is in the national interest. The bill would also require the Secretary of State, with DHS, to issue implementing rules within 90 days of enactment.

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

Harrigan, Pat [R-NC-10]

NC • R

Cosponsors

  • Rep. Moolenaar, John R. [R-MI-2]

    MI • R

    Sponsored 12/5/2025

  • Rep. Self, Keith [R-TX-3]

    TX • R

    Sponsored 12/9/2025

  • Rep. Jackson, Ronny [R-TX-13]

    TX • R

    Sponsored 12/11/2025

  • Rep. Haridopolos, Mike [R-FL-8]

    FL • R

    Sponsored 12/15/2025

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

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