In September, Senator Jim Banks (R-Ind.) introduced a bill designed to institute critical reforms to the H-1B visa system, closing loopholes that displace American workers in favor of cheap foreign labor. The FAIR-supported American Tech Workforce Act would:
• Raise the wage floor for H-1B visas from $60,000 to $150,000
• End the Optional Practical Training (OPT) program
• Replace the H-1B lottery with a system that awards visas to the highest bidder
The H-1B program allows American companies to bring in foreign workers in certain “specialty occupations,” such as engineering or information technology. Originally intended to fulfill a company’s legitimate employment needs, the program has become a way for companies – primarily tech giants – to replace American workers with cheap foreign labor.