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. 
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 ‘‘Keep STEM Grad-
uates in America Act of 2024’’. 
SEC. 2. FINDINGS AND PURPOSE. 
(a) FINDINGS.—The Congress finds that foreign stu-
dents pursuing degrees in science and technology fields at 
colleges and universities in the United States contribute 
significantly to American innovation and economic growth. 
(b) PURPOSE.—The purpose of this Act is to encour-
age talented foreign students studying science and tech-
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nology in the United States to remain in the country after 
graduation by extending the optional practical training pe-
riod, allocating additional H–1B visa quotas, and enhanc-
ing their chances of securing H–1B visas. 
SEC. 3. EXTENSION OF OPT PERIOD. 
(a) REGULATIONS.—Not later than 180 days after 
the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of 
Homeland Security shall revise section 214.2(f)(10) of 
title 8, Code of Federal Regulations, to— 
(1) extend the maximum period of science, tech-
nology, engineering, or mathematics (hereinafter 
known as ‘‘STEM’’) optional practical training 
(hereinafter known as ‘‘OPT’’) from 29 months to 
48 months for an eligible student; and 
(2) extend the period for which an eligible stu-
dent may apply for OPT from 60 days to 180 days. 
(b) ELIGIBILITY.—To be eligible for the extended 
OPT period under subsection (a), an applicant must have 
earned a degree in a STEM field from a institution of 
higher education in the United States that is accredited. 
(c) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
(1) ELIGIBLE
STUDENT.—The term ‘‘eligible 
student’’ means any student who has earned one or 
more degrees in a STEM field. 
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(2) INSTITUTION OF HIGHER EDUCATION.—The 
term ‘‘institution of higher education’’ has the 
meaning given such term in section 101 of the High-
er Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001). 
SEC. 4. ALLOCATION OF ADDITIONAL H–1B VISAS. 
Section 214(g) of the Immigration and Nationality 
Act (8 U.S.C. 1184(g)(1)) is amended by adding at the 
end the following: 
‘‘(12) The numerical limitation described in 
paragraph (1)(A) for a fiscal year shall be increased 
from 20,000 visas to 30,000 visas for non-
immigrants with a degree in a science, technology, 
engineering, or mathematics (commonly known as 
‘STEM’) field from an institution of higher edu-
cation in the United States.’’. 
SEC. 5. REVISION TO H–1B LOTTERY SYSTEM. 
Not later than 270 days after the date of the enact-
ment of this Act, the Secretary of Homeland Security shall 
revise any rules and regulations necessary to prioritize 
registrants in the H–1B registration selection process that 
are nonimmigrants with a degree in a science, technology, 
engineering, or mathematics (commonly known as 
‘‘STEM’’) . 
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