# 119-hr-7899: Respect for Essential Workers Act

119-hr-7899, Respect for Essential Workers Act, is a 119th Congress bill sponsored by Rep. Cherfilus-McCormick, Sheila [D-FL-20] (D-FL); status introduced (as of 2026-04-21).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-7899
- 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-7899
- Congress: 119
- Title: Respect for Essential Workers Act
- Status: introduced
- Introduced: 2026-03-12
- Sponsor: Rep. Cherfilus-McCormick, Sheila [D-FL-20] (D-FL)
- Cosponsors: 0
- Policy area: Immigration
- Touches household money: no
- Last recorded action: 2026-04-21

## Summary

**Creates a pathway to permanent residence for certain Temporary Protected Status (TPS) workers.** - 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.

## Provisions PRIA read

- Green card path for TPS essential workers: benefit, high. 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 healt…

## Related bills

- 119-hr-7977: Energy Bills Relief Act
- 119-hr-7973: Momnibus Act
- 119-hr-2945: Housing for All Act of 2025
- 119-hr-3971: Domestic Workers Bill of Rights Act
- 119-hr-2927: All-Americans Tax Relief Act of 2025
- 119-hr-5356: National Infrastructure Bank Act of 2025

## Sources
- [119-hr-7899 on Congress.gov](https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/7899)

## Related
- [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-2945: Housing for All Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-2945)
- [119-hr-3971: Domestic Workers Bill of Rights Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-3971)
- [119-hr-2927: All-Americans Tax Relief Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-2927)
- [119-hr-5356: National Infrastructure Bank Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-5356)
- [All bills in Congress](https://policyrisk.com/legislation)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-7899 (as of 2026-04-21).