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 mathe-
matics 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 ex-
empted from the numerical limitations on H–1B non-
immigrants. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
06:21 May 08, 2015
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00001
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H2181.IH
H2181
SSpencer on DSK4SPTVN1PROD with BILLS
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Stopping Trained in 
America Ph.D.s From Leaving the Economy Act of 2015’’ 
or the ‘‘STAPLE Act’’. 
SEC. 2. EXEMPTION FROM NUMERICAL LIMITATIONS ON 
PERMANENT 
RESIDENTS 
FOR 
CERTAIN 
UNITED STATES EDUCATED IMMIGRANTS. 
(a) ALIENS NOT SUBJECT TO DIRECT NUMERICAL 
LIMITATIONS.—Section 201(b)(1) of the Immigration and 
Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1151(b)(1)) is amended by add-
ing at the end the following: 
‘‘(F) Aliens who have earned a Ph.D. de-
gree from a United States institution of higher 
education (as defined in section 101(a) of the 
Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 
1001(a))) in a field of science, technology, engi-
neering, or mathematics and who have an offer 
of employment from a United States employer 
in a field related to such degree.’’. 
(b) PROCEDURE FOR GRANTING IMMIGRANT STA-
TUS.—Section 204(a)(1)(F) of the Immigration and Na-
tionality Act (8 U.S.C. 1154(a)(1)(F)) is amended— 
(1) by striking ‘‘or’’ after ‘‘203(b)(2),’’; 
(2) by inserting ‘‘, or 201(b)(1)(F)’’ after 
‘‘203(b)(3)’’; and 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
06:21 May 08, 2015
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00002
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H2181.IH
H2181
SSpencer on DSK4SPTVN1PROD with BILLS
(3) by striking ‘‘Attorney General’’ and insert-
ing ‘‘Secretary of Homeland Security’’. 
SEC. 3. EXEMPTION FROM H–1B NUMERICAL LIMITATION 
FOR CERTAIN UNITED STATES EDUCATED 
NONIMMIGRANTS. 
Section 214(g)(5) of the Immigration and Nationality 
Act (8 U.S.C. 1184(g)(5)) is amended— 
(1) in subparagraph (B), by striking ‘‘or’’ at 
the end; 
(2) in subparagraph (C), by striking the period 
at the end and inserting a semicolon; and 
(3) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(D) has earned a Ph.D. degree from a United 
States institution of higher education (as defined in 
section 101(a) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 
(20 U.S.C. 1001(a))) in a field of science, tech-
nology, engineering, or mathematics and with re-
spect to whom the petitioning employer requires 
such education as a condition for the employment.’’. 
Æ 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
06:21 May 08, 2015
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00003
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6301
E:\BILLS\H2181.IH
H2181
SSpencer on DSK4SPTVN1PROD with BILLS