PRIA Logo™
119-s-4834119th Congress

Prioritizing American Talent Act

Sponsored By: Senator Scott, Rick [R-FL]

Introduced

Summary

Blocks Department of Homeland Security funding for work authorizations for F‑1 and M‑1 foreign students unless Congress explicitly authorizes those jobs. The Prioritizing American Talent Act would also require the Secretary of Homeland Security to identify and rescind related unobligated fees from the Immigration Examinations Fee Account within 30 days after enactment.

Show full summary
  • F‑1 and M‑1 students: Would prevent DHS from adjudicating, processing, approving, renewing, or extending employment authorizations for these students unless an Act of Congress authorizes the work.
  • Department of Homeland Security and fee account: Would require the Secretary to determine which unobligated balances in the Immigration Examinations Fee Account are tied to those applications and to rescind those amounts within 30 days.
  • Employers and schools: Would limit the ability to hire or retain foreign students for work unless Congress expressly authorizes that employment.

Personalized for You

How does this bill affect your finances?

Personalize government policy and PRIA will tell you what this bill means for your household, plus every other piece of legislation we track. PRIA reads each provision against your financial profile to show you exactly what matters to your wallet.

Free to download

Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

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

Stops work permits for international students

If enacted, the bill would bar the Department of Homeland Security from using funds to process or approve work-permit applications for F-1 and M-1 students. This ban would cover money in the Immigration Examinations Fee Account and would apply to adjudicating, renewing, or extending any employment authorization unless Congress expressly authorizes the work. The bill would also require DHS to rescind unobligated balances in that fee account that the Secretary determines were collected for those student work permits. The Secretary would have to determine the amount to rescind within 30 days after enactment. No dollar amount is specified in the bill.

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

Scott, Rick [R-FL]

FL • R

Cosponsors

  • Sen. Tuberville, Tommy [R-AL]

    AL • R

    Sponsored 8/6/2026

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

View on Congress.gov
Back to Legislation