I 

114TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. R. 2181 

To amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to authorize certain aliens 

who have earned a Ph.D. degree from a United States institution of 

higher education in a field of science, technology, engineering, or mathematics to be admitted for permanent residence and to be exempted 

from the numerical limitations on H–1B nonimmigrants. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

APRIL 30, 2015 

Mr. PAULSEN (for himself, Mr. QUIGLEY, and Mr. RENACCI) introduced the 

following bill; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary 

A BILL 

To amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to authorize 

certain aliens who have earned a Ph.D. degree from 

a United States institution of higher education in a 

field of science, technology, engineering, or mathematics 

to be admitted for permanent residence and to be exempted from the numerical limitations on H–1B nonimmigrants. 

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


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1 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

2 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Stopping Trained in 

3 America Ph.D.s From Leaving the Economy Act of 2015’’ 

4 or the ‘‘STAPLE Act’’. 

5 SEC. 2. EXEMPTION FROM NUMERICAL LIMITATIONS ON 

6 PERMANENT RESIDENTS FOR CERTAIN 

7 UNITED STATES EDUCATED IMMIGRANTS. 

8 (a) ALIENS NOT SUBJECT TO DIRECT NUMERICAL

9 LIMITATIONS.—Section 201(b)(1) of the Immigration and 

10 Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1151(b)(1)) is amended by add11 ing at the end the following: 

12 ‘‘(F) Aliens who have earned a Ph.D. de13 gree from a United States institution of higher 

14 education (as defined in section 101(a) of the 

15 Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 

16 1001(a))) in a field of science, technology, engi17 neering, or mathematics and who have an offer 

18 of employment from a United States employer 

19 in a field related to such degree.’’. 

20 (b) PROCEDURE FOR GRANTING IMMIGRANT STA21 TUS.—Section 204(a)(1)(F) of the Immigration and Na22 tionality Act (8 U.S.C. 1154(a)(1)(F)) is amended— 

23 (1) by striking ‘‘or’’ after ‘‘203(b)(2),’’; 

24 (2) by inserting ‘‘, or 201(b)(1)(F)’’ after 

25 ‘‘203(b)(3)’’; and 


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1 (3) by striking ‘‘Attorney General’’ and insert2 ing ‘‘Secretary of Homeland Security’’. 

3 SEC. 3. EXEMPTION FROM H–1B NUMERICAL LIMITATION 

4 FOR CERTAIN UNITED STATES EDUCATED 

5 NONIMMIGRANTS. 

6 Section 214(g)(5) of the Immigration and Nationality 

7 Act (8 U.S.C. 1184(g)(5)) is amended— 

8 (1) in subparagraph (B), by striking ‘‘or’’ at 

9 the end; 

10 (2) in subparagraph (C), by striking the period 

11 at the end and inserting a semicolon; and 

12 (3) by adding at the end the following: 

13 ‘‘(D) has earned a Ph.D. degree from a United 

14 States institution of higher education (as defined in 

15 section 101(a) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 

16 (20 U.S.C. 1001(a))) in a field of science, tech17 nology, engineering, or mathematics and with re18 spect to whom the petitioning employer requires 

19 such education as a condition for the employment.’’. 

Æ 


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