I 

118TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION H. R. 9023 

To encourage the growth of America’s STEM pool. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

JULY 11, 2024 

Mr. THANEDAR introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 

Committee on the Judiciary 

A BILL 

To encourage the growth of America’s STEM pool. 

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 

3 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

4 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Keep STEM Grad5 uates in America Act of 2024’’. 

6 SEC. 2. FINDINGS AND PURPOSE. 

7 (a) FINDINGS.—The Congress finds that foreign stu8 dents pursuing degrees in science and technology fields at 

9 colleges and universities in the United States contribute 

10 significantly to American innovation and economic growth. 

11 (b) PURPOSE.—The purpose of this Act is to encour12 age talented foreign students studying science and techVerDate Sep 11 2014 04:39 Aug 16, 2024 Jkt 049200 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H9023.IH H9023

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1 nology in the United States to remain in the country after 

2 graduation by extending the optional practical training pe3 riod, allocating additional H–1B visa quotas, and enhanc4 ing their chances of securing H–1B visas. 

5 SEC. 3. EXTENSION OF OPT PERIOD. 

6 (a) REGULATIONS.—Not later than 180 days after 

7 the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of 

8 Homeland Security shall revise section 214.2(f)(10) of 

9 title 8, Code of Federal Regulations, to— 

10 (1) extend the maximum period of science, tech11 nology, engineering, or mathematics (hereinafter 

12 known as ‘‘STEM’’) optional practical training 

13 (hereinafter known as ‘‘OPT’’) from 29 months to 

14 48 months for an eligible student; and 

15 (2) extend the period for which an eligible stu16 dent may apply for OPT from 60 days to 180 days. 

17 (b) ELIGIBILITY.—To be eligible for the extended 

18 OPT period under subsection (a), an applicant must have 

19 earned a degree in a STEM field from a institution of 

20 higher education in the United States that is accredited. 

21 (c) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 

22 (1) ELIGIBLE STUDENT.—The term ‘‘eligible 

23 student’’ means any student who has earned one or 

24 more degrees in a STEM field. 


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1 (2) INSTITUTION OF HIGHER EDUCATION.—The 

2 term ‘‘institution of higher education’’ has the 

3 meaning given such term in section 101 of the High4 er Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001). 

5 SEC. 4. ALLOCATION OF ADDITIONAL H–1B VISAS. 

6 Section 214(g) of the Immigration and Nationality 

7 Act (8 U.S.C. 1184(g)(1)) is amended by adding at the 

8 end the following: 

9 ‘‘(12) The numerical limitation described in 

10 paragraph (1)(A) for a fiscal year shall be increased 

11 from 20,000 visas to 30,000 visas for non12 immigrants with a degree in a science, technology, 

13 engineering, or mathematics (commonly known as 

14 ‘STEM’) field from an institution of higher edu15 cation in the United States.’’. 

16 SEC. 5. REVISION TO H–1B LOTTERY SYSTEM. 

17 Not later than 270 days after the date of the enact18 ment of this Act, the Secretary of Homeland Security shall 

19 revise any rules and regulations necessary to prioritize 

20 registrants in the H–1B registration selection process that 

21 are nonimmigrants with a degree in a science, technology, 

22 engineering, or mathematics (commonly known as 

23 ‘‘STEM’’) . 


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1 SEC. 6. REPORTING REQUIREMENT. 

2 Not later than one year after the date of enactment 

3 of this Act, the Secretary of Homeland Security and the 

4 Secretary of State shall submit a report to Congress as5 sessing the impact of this Act on the retention of non6 immigrants with a degree in a science, technology, engi7 neering, or mathematics (commonly known as ‘‘STEM’’) 

8 field from an institution of higher education (as such term 

9 is defined in section 101 of the Higher Education Act of 

10 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001)). 

11 SEC. 7. EFFECTIVE DATE. 

12 Unless otherwise specified under this Act, this Act, 

13 and any amendments made by this Act, shall take effect 

14 90 days after the date of enactment. 

Æ 


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