# 119-hr-8013: Keep Innovators in America Act

119-hr-8013, Keep Innovators in America Act, is a 119th Congress bill sponsored by Rep. Liccardo, Sam T. [D-CA-16] (D-CA); status introduced; PRIA reads it as touching household money (as of 2026-09-26).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-8013
- As of: 2026-09-26
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: 119-hr-8013
- Congress: 119
- Title: Keep Innovators in America Act
- Status: introduced
- Introduced: 2026-03-19
- Sponsor: Rep. Liccardo, Sam T. [D-CA-16] (D-CA)
- Cosponsors: 7
- Policy area: Immigration
- Touches household money: yes
- Last recorded action: 2026-09-26

## Summary

**Would allow F‑1 students to include practical training and DHS‑authorized work tied to their field, including after graduation.** It would also let an F‑1 student maintain student status while they are the beneficiary of a pending or approved petition filed under section 204(a)(1), provided an enrolled student's course of study meets the requirements of section 214(m). - Students: F‑1 students would be able to count practical training and employment authorization as part of their course of study when the work is related to their field, including after completing degree requirements, under terms set by the Secretary of Homeland Security. - Employers: Employers could retain international graduates for work directly related to their degrees more easily, since those graduates could have post‑degree employment authorization tied to their studies. - Colleges and schools: Educational institutions could have students who remain in F‑1 status while a petition under section 204(a)(1) is pending or approved, but enrolled coursework must align with section 214(m).

## Cosponsors (7)

- Rep. Foushee, Valerie P. [D-NC-4] (D-NC), 2026-09-24T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Thanedar, Shri [D-MI-13] (D-MI), 2026-09-24T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Lieu, Ted [D-CA-36] (D-CA), 2026-09-24T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Obernolte, Jay [R-CA-23] (R-CA), 2026-03-19T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Krishnamoorthi, Raja [D-IL-8] (D-IL), 2026-03-19T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Lofgren, Zoe [D-CA-18] (D-CA), 2026-09-24T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Ross, Deborah K. [D-NC-2] (D-NC), 2026-09-24T00:00:00.000Z

## Provisions PRIA read

- More work rights for international students: benefit, medium. If enacted, the bill would allow an F nonimmigrant student's "course of study" to include practical training and employment authorization under terms set by the Secretary of Homeland Security. Employment would have to be related to the student's field of study. Employment authorization could contin…

## 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-4206: CONNECT for Health Act of 2025
- 119-hr-7853: PrEP Access and Coverage Act of 2026
- 119-hr-2598: IDEA Full Funding Act

## Sources
- [119-hr-8013 on Congress.gov](https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/8013)

## 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-4206: CONNECT for Health Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-4206)
- [119-hr-7853: PrEP Access and Coverage Act of 2026](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-7853)
- [119-hr-2598: IDEA Full Funding Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-2598)
- [All bills in Congress](https://policyrisk.com/legislation)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-8013 (as of 2026-09-26).