I
106TH CONGRESS
1ST SESSION
H. R. 2698
To promote economic growth and opportunity by increasing the level of
visas available for highly specialized scientists and engineers and by
eliminating the earnings penalty on senior citizens who continue to work
after reaching retirement age.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
AUGUST 4, 1999
Mr. DREIER (for himself, Mr. DAVIS of Virginia, Ms. DUNN, and Mr. ROGAN)
introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on
Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committee on the Judiciary, for
a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for
consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the com-
mittee concerned
A BILL
To promote economic growth and opportunity by increasing
the level of visas available for highly specialized scientists
and engineers and by eliminating the earnings penalty
on senior citizens who continue to work after reaching
retirement age.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘New Workers for Eco-
nomic Growth Act’’.
TITLE I—H–1B NONIMMIGRANT
WORKERS
SEC. 101. AUTHORIZED ADMISSIONS OF H–1B WORKERS.
(a) ANNUAL LIMITATIONS.—Section 214(g)(1)(A) of
the 
Immigration 
and 
Nationality 
Act 
(8 
U.S.C.
1184(g)(1)(A)) is amended—
(1) in clause (ii), by adding ‘‘and’’ at the end;
and
(2) by striking clauses (iii) through (v) and in-
serting the following:
‘‘(iii) with respect to all such aliens
other than aliens described in paragraph
(5)—
‘‘(I) 200,000 for each of the fis-
cal years 2000, 2001, and 2002; and
‘‘(II) 65,000 for each succeeding
fiscal year; or’’.
(b) EXEMPTION FROM ANNUAL LIMITATION.—Sec-
tion 214(g) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8
U.S.C. 1184(g)) is amended by adding at the end the fol-
lowing new paragraph:
‘‘(5) The numerical limitations contained in para-
graph (1)(A)(iii) shall not apply to any nonimmigrant
alien admitted under section 101(a)(15)(H)(i)(b) who—
‘‘(A) has attained a master’s degree or higher
degree (or its equivalent) in a specialty related to
the intended employment and receives wages (includ-
ing cash bonuses and similar compensation) at an
annual rate equal to at least $60,000; or
‘‘(B) has attained a bachelor’s degree or higher
degree (or its equivalent) and is employed (or has
received an offer of employment) at an institution of
higher education (as defined in section 101(a) of the
Higher 
Education 
Act 
of 
1965 
(20 
U.S.C.
1001(a))).’’.
(c) EXEMPTION
FROM
ATTESTATION
REQUIRE-
MENTS.—Section 212(n)(3)(B)(i) of the Immigration and
Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1182(n)(3)(B)(i)) is amended—
(1) in subclause (I), by striking ‘‘or’’ at the
end;
(2) in subclause (II), by striking ‘‘and’’ at the
end and inserting ‘‘or’’; and
(3) by adding at the end the following:
‘‘(III) has attained a bachelor’s degree or
higher degree (or its equivalent) and is em-
ployed (or has received an offer of employment)
at an institution of higher education (as defined
in section 101(a) of the Higher Education Act
of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001(a))); and’’.
TITLE 
II—ELIMINATION 
OF
EARNINGS PENALTY ON SEN-
IOR CITIZENS
SEC. 201. ELIMINATION OF EARNINGS PENALTY ON SENIOR
CITIZENS WHO CONTINUE TO WORK AFTER
REACHING RETIREMENT AGE.
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 203 of the Social Security
Act (42 U.S.C. 403) is amended—
(1) in subsection (c)(1), by striking ‘‘the age of
seventy’’ and inserting ‘‘retirement age (as defined
in section 216(l))’’;
(2) in paragraphs (1)(A) and (2) of subsection
(d), by striking ‘‘the age of seventy’’ each place it
appears and inserting ‘‘retirement age (as defined in
section 216(l))’’;
(3) in subsection (f)(1)(B), by striking ‘‘was
age seventy or over’’ and inserting ‘‘was at or above
retirement age (as defined in section 216(l))’’;
(4) in subsection (f)(3)—
(A) by striking ‘‘331⁄3 percent’’ and all
that follows through ‘‘any other individual,’’
and inserting ‘‘50 percent of such individual’s
earnings for such year in excess of the product
of the exempt amount as determined under
paragraph (8),’’; and