# 119-hr-7961: H–1Bs for Physicians and the Healthcare Workforce Act

119-hr-7961, H–1Bs for Physicians and the Healthcare Workforce Act, is a 119th Congress bill sponsored by Rep. Lawler, Michael [R-NY-17] (R-NY); status introduced (as of 2026-10-11).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-7961
- As of: 2026-10-11
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: 119-hr-7961
- Congress: 119
- Title: H–1Bs for Physicians and the Healthcare Workforce Act
- Status: introduced
- Introduced: 2026-03-17
- Sponsor: Rep. Lawler, Michael [R-NY-17] (R-NY)
- Cosponsors: 68
- Policy area: Immigration
- Touches household money: no
- Last recorded action: 2026-10-11

## Summary

**Conditional exemption for H-1B health care workers.** This bill lets certain H-1B health care workers enter despite a Presidential Proclamation if they have a job offer and their petition includes a $100,000 payment, using the Affordable Care Act definition of the health care workforce. - Health care workers: Allows H-1B workers who are employed or have a valid job offer to bypass the proclamation when their visa petition includes a $100,000 payment. - Employers and health facilities: Makes it easier for hospitals and clinics to hire qualified foreign clinicians defined under the Affordable Care Act to fill staffing needs. - Fees: Requires the $100,000 payment with the petition and prohibits any additional fees above the existing statutory fee cap in INA 214(c)(9)(B).

## Cosponsors (68)

- Rep. Latimer, George [D-NY-16] (D-NY), 2026-10-09T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Stevens, Haley M. [D-MI-11] (D-MI), 2026-10-09T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Gillen, Laura [D-NY-4] (D-NY), 2026-09-24T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Bishop, Sanford D. [D-GA-2] (D-GA), 2026-03-17T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Salazar, Maria Elvira [R-FL-27] (R-FL), 2026-03-17T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Clarke, Yvette D. [D-NY-9] (D-NY), 2026-03-17T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Sewell, Terri A. [D-AL-7] (D-AL), 2026-03-18T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Mannion, John W. [D-NY-22] (D-NY), 2026-03-19T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Goldman, Daniel S. [D-NY-10] (D-NY), 2026-03-24T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Bacon, Don [R-NE-2] (R-NE), 2026-03-24T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Morelle, Joseph D. [D-NY-25] (D-NY), 2026-03-26T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Scott, David [D-GA-13] (D-GA), 2026-03-26T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Conaway, Herbert C. [D-NJ-3] (D-NJ), 2026-03-26T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Torres, Ritchie [D-NY-15] (D-NY), 2026-03-26T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. DelBene, Suzan K. [D-WA-1] (D-WA), 2026-03-27T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Gonzalez, Vicente [D-TX-34] (D-TX), 2026-03-27T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Fitzpatrick, Brian K. [R-PA-1] (R-PA), 2026-03-27T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Kennedy, Timothy M. [D-NY-26] (D-NY), 2026-03-30T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Alford, Mark [R-MO-4] (R-MO), 2026-04-02T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Schneider, Bradley Scott [D-IL-10] (D-IL), 2026-04-02T00:00:00.000Z
- Del. King-Hinds, Kimberlyn [R-MP-At Large] (R-MP), 2026-04-02T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Thanedar, Shri [D-MI-13] (D-MI), 2026-04-02T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Correa, J. Luis [D-CA-46] (D-CA), 2026-04-02T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Krishnamoorthi, Raja [D-IL-8] (D-IL), 2026-04-02T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Moulton, Seth [D-MA-6] (D-MA), 2026-04-14T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Figures, Shomari [D-AL-2] (D-AL), 2026-04-14T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Riley, Josh [D-NY-19] (D-NY), 2026-04-14T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. McBride, Sarah [D-DE-At Large] (D-DE), 2026-04-23T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Schrier, Kim [D-WA-8] (D-WA), 2026-04-27T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Davis, Donald G. [D-NC-1] (D-NC), 2026-04-27T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Fields, Cleo [D-LA-6] (D-LA), 2026-04-30T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Meuser, Daniel [R-PA-9] (R-PA), 2026-05-07T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Johnson, Julie [D-TX-32] (D-TX), 2026-05-07T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Moore, Gwen [D-WI-4] (D-WI), 2026-05-12T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Dexter, Maxine [D-OR-3] (D-OR), 2026-05-12T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Sánchez, Linda T. [D-CA-38] (D-CA), 2026-05-13T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Torres, Norma J. [D-CA-35] (D-CA), 2026-05-13T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Boyle, Brendan F. [D-PA-2] (D-PA), 2026-05-13T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Thompson, Bennie G. [D-MS-2] (D-MS), 2026-05-14T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Meng, Grace [D-NY-6] (D-NY), 2026-05-19T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. McGovern, James P. [D-MA-2] (D-MA), 2026-05-19T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Larson, John B. [D-CT-1] (D-CT), 2026-05-21T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Carson, André [D-IN-7] (D-IN), 2026-05-21T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Walkinshaw, James R. [D-VA-11] (D-VA), 2026-05-26T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Golden, Jared F. [D-ME-2] (D-ME), 2026-05-26T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Gottheimer, Josh [D-NJ-5] (D-NJ), 2026-06-03T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Van Drew, Jefferson [R-NJ-2] (R-NJ), 2026-06-09T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Suozzi, Thomas R. [D-NY-3] (D-NY), 2026-06-10T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. McDonald Rivet, Kristen [D-MI-8] (D-MI), 2026-06-11T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Pou, Nellie [D-NJ-9] (D-NJ), 2026-06-11T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Carbajal, Salud O. [D-CA-24] (D-CA), 2026-06-23T00:00:00.000Z
- Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large] (D-DC), 2026-06-23T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Bynum, Janelle S. [D-OR-5] (D-OR), 2026-06-25T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Sorensen, Eric [D-IL-17] (D-IL), 2026-06-30T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Thompson, Mike [D-CA-4] (D-CA), 2026-07-02T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Lee, Susie [D-NV-3] (D-NV), 2026-07-02T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Costa, Jim [D-CA-21] (D-CA), 2026-07-02T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Houlahan, Chrissy [D-PA-6] (D-PA), 2026-07-09T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Amo, Gabe [D-RI-1] (D-RI), 2026-07-09T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Panetta, Jimmy [D-CA-19] (D-CA), 2026-07-14T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Chu, Judy [D-CA-28] (D-CA), 2026-07-16T00:00:00.000Z
- Rescom. Hernández, Pablo Jose [D-PR-At Large] (D-PR), 2026-07-16T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Lieu, Ted [D-CA-36] (D-CA), 2026-07-20T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Cohen, Steve [D-TN-9] (D-TN), 2026-07-20T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Scholten, Hillary J. [D-MI-3] (D-MI), 2026-08-03T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Vindman, Eugene Simon [D-VA-7] (D-VA), 2026-08-27T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. McClain Delaney, April [D-MD-6] (D-MD), 2026-09-03T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. McGarvey, Morgan [D-KY-3] (D-KY), 2026-09-03T00:00:00.000Z

## Provisions PRIA read

- H-1B healthcare workers: $100,000 exemption: mixed, low. If enacted, the bill would make the Presidential Proclamation titled "Restriction on Entry of Certain Nonimmigrant Workers" (Sept 19, 2025) not apply to certain H-1B health care workers. You would be covered only if you are employed or have a job offer in the health care workforce as defined at 42…

## Related bills

- 119-hres-70: Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that Congress should take all appropriate measures to ensure that the United States Postal Service remains…
- 119-hr-2102: Major Richard Star Act
- 119-hr-842: Nancy Gardner Sewell Medicare Multi-Cancer Early Detection Screening Coverage Act
- 119-hr-4206: CONNECT for Health Act of 2025
- 119-hr-1262: Mikaela Naylon Give Kids a Chance Act
- 119-hr-1993: 25th Anniversary of 9/11 Commemorative Coin Act

## Sources
- [119-hr-7961 on Congress.gov](https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/7961)

## Related
- [119-hres-70: Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that Congress should take…](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hres-70)
- [119-hr-2102: Major Richard Star Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-2102)
- [119-hr-842: Nancy Gardner Sewell Medicare Multi-Cancer Early Detection Screening Coverage A…](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-842)
- [119-hr-4206: CONNECT for Health Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-4206)
- [119-hr-1262: Mikaela Naylon Give Kids a Chance Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-1262)
- [119-hr-1993: 25th Anniversary of 9/11 Commemorative Coin Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-1993)
- [All bills in Congress](https://policyrisk.com/legislation)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-7961 (as of 2026-10-11).