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119-s-2821119th CongressWALLET

American Tech Workforce Act of 2025

Sponsored By: Senator Banks, Jim [R-IN]

Introduced

Summary

Tighten H‑1B wage and worksite rules. The bill would end Optional Practical Training for many F‑1 students, set a high wage floor for H‑1B hires, and sharply limit third‑party and agency-style placements.

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

4 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 2 costs, 1 mixed.

Higher wage floor for H-1B workers

This bill would require employers filing H-1B petitions to pay the beneficiary at least the higher of two amounts. One is the wage a U.S. worker did for the same job in the prior two years. The other is a $150,000 floor for the first year after enactment. After that, the $150,000 floor would rise each July 1 by the cumulative change in the Consumer Price Index since enactment.

End Optional Practical Training

This bill would terminate the Optional Practical Training (OPT) program for F-1 students. F-1 students would not be allowed to get work authorization through OPT or any successor program after finishing their studies. Any OPT application pending on enactment would be denied and any fees paid for those pending applications would be refunded.

Block agency work authorization programs

This bill would say no federal agency may grant work authorization through a program unless Congress specifically authorizes that program. Agencies would be barred from creating new work-authorization programs under this Act or its changes.

New H-1B pay and third-party rules

This bill would make H-1B petitions that pay more get priority during a fiscal year, even if filed later. If any work is done at a third-party worksite, the H-1B visa could be valid for at most one year. The bill would also bar issuance when a third-party assignment is speculative or not shown to last the whole requested period.

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

Banks, Jim [R-IN]

IN • R

Cosponsors

  • Sen. Moreno, Bernie [R-OH]

    OH • R

    Sponsored 7/16/2026

  • Sen. Tuberville, Tommy [R-AL]

    AL • R

    Sponsored 8/7/2026

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

View on Congress.gov
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