DPE Applauds Re-introduction of the Keep STEM Talent Act

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Katie Barrows
Communications Director
P: 202-549-5991
kbarrows@dpeaflcio.org

WASHINGTON, April 3, 2025 - This week, Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Mike Rounds (R-SD), along with original co-sponsor Angus King (I-ME), introduced the Keep STEM Talent Act of 2025 in the Senate. Representatives Bill Foster (D-IL) and Mike Lawler (R-NY), along with original co-sponsors Representative Chrissy Houlahan (D-PA) and Delegate Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC), introduced companion legislation in the House of Representatives. The bill exempts from the annual green card cap international graduates of U.S. colleges and universities who earn STEM advanced degrees and receive an employment offer for a job that pays above the median wage for the occupation and area from an employer that completes a labor market test. 

Department for Professional Employees, AFL-CIO (DPE) President Jennifer Dorning released the following statement on the introduction of the bipartisan Keep STEM Talent Act:

“I applaud Senators Durbin, Rounds, and King as well as Representatives Foster, Lawler, Houlahan, and Delegate Norton for introducing the Keep STEM Talent Act in the 119th Congress. This bipartisan legislation offers a high-road option for talented graduates from U.S. colleges and universities, including members of DPE unions, to continue contributing to the American economy while earning a fair return on their work. The whole workforce, including U.S. professionals, would benefit from workers with in-demand skills having a streamlined path to employment-based green cards, rather than being forced to accept precarious, temporary work visas, which only enables employers to lower standards in their industries. Further, the legislation includes safeguards that will help protect against downward pressure on wages in STEM professions.

DPE is proud to support the Keep STEM Talent Act’s high-road approach to attracting and retaining international talent. I urge Congress to pass this sensible legislation.”

About DPE

The Department for Professional Employees, AFL-CIO (DPE) is a coalition of 24 unions representing over four million professional and technical union members. DPE affiliate unions represent professionals in over 300 occupations in education and healthcare; science, engineering, and technology; legal, business, and management; media, entertainment, and the arts; and public administration.

DPE Commends the Bipartisan Senate Introduction of the Keep STEM Talent Act

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Katie Barrows
Communications Director
P: 202-549-5991
Kbarrows@dpeaflcio.org

WASHINGTON, July 20, 2023 - Yesterday, Senators Dick Durbin (D-Illinois) and Mike Rounds (R-South Dakota) introduced the Keep STEM Talent Act of 2023, which would exempt from the annual green card cap international graduates of U.S. colleges and universities who earn STEM advanced degrees and receive an employment offer for a job that pays above the median wage for the occupation and area from an employer that completes a labor market test. Department for Professional Employees, AFL-CIO (DPE) President Jennifer Dorning released the following statement on the introduction of the bipartisan Keep STEM Talent Act:

“I applaud Senators Durbin and Rounds for introducing the Keep STEM Talent Act. This bipartisan legislation would enable talented graduates from U.S. colleges and universities, including members of DPE unions, to continue contributing to the American economy while ensuring that they can earn a fair return on their work. Specifically, the Keep STEM Talent Act offers graduates with in-demand skills a direct path to permanence, rather than forcing them to accept precarious, temporary visas. This approach reinforces the professionalism of the STEM workforce and affords individuals agency in the labor market.

DPE is proud to support the Keep STEM Talent Act’s high-road approach to attracting and retaining international talent. I urge the Senate to pass this important legislation.”

About DPE

The Department for Professional Employees, AFL-CIO (DPE) is a coalition of 24 unions representing over four million professional and technical union members. DPE affiliate unions represent professionals in over 300 occupations in education and healthcare; science, engineering, and technology; legal, business, and management; media, entertainment, and the arts; and public administration.

DPE Commends USCIS for Taking Action to Address Gaming of H-1B Visa Lottery, Renews Call for Reform

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Katie Barrows
Communications Director
P: 202-549-5991
kbarrows@dpeaflcio.org

WASHINGTON, May 1, 2023 - On Friday, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) released a notice that it has found evidence that some employers are abusing the H-1B registration process, thereby increasing their chances of winning H-1B visas to hire workers from outside of the country in this year’s lottery.

Department for Professional Employees, AFL-CIO (DPE) President Jennifer Dorning released the following statement on the USCIS findings:

“I appreciate that USCIS is taking action to address part of a problem DPE and our affiliated unions, whose members span immigration statuses and include H-1B workers, have been calling attention to for years - employers can, and do, game the H-1B visa lottery system. While USCIS's announced actions are a welcome development, as long as the lottery system exists, companies will take advantage of it to the detriment of all professionals. DPE continues to advocate for a wage-based visa allocation system. Wage-based allocation of H-1B visas would provide a market-based process to ensure that H-1B workers can earn fair wages and employers who truly cannot find available workers can meet their staffing needs. This common-sense reform would go a long way to reforming the H-1B visa program so that it works for U.S. professionals and those employed on H-1B visas. 

DPE again calls on USCIS to use its regulatory authority to adopt a wage-based H-1B visa allocation process to fully address the unfair gamesmanship it has identified. Additionally, DPE urges Congress to address the broader issues that plague the current H-1B visa system by passing the H-1B and L-1 Visa Reform Act.” 

About DPE

The Department for Professional Employees, AFL-CIO (DPE) is a coalition of 24 unions representing over four million professional and technical union members. DPE affiliate unions represent professionals in over 300 occupations in education and healthcare; science, engineering, and technology; legal, business, and management; media, entertainment, and the arts; and public administration.

DPE Applauds the Senate Reintroduction of the H-1B and L-1 Visa Reform Act

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Katie Barrows
Communications Director
P: 202-549-5991
kbarrows@dpeaflcio.org

WASHINGTON, March 28, 2023 - Yesterday, Senators Dick Durbin (D-Illinois) and Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) reintroduced the H-1B and L-1 Visa Reform Act. Department for Professional Employees, AFL-CIO (DPE) President Jennifer Dorning released the following statement in response to the Senate reintroduction of the bill:

“I commend Senators Durbin and Grassley for reintroducing the H-1B and L-1 Visa Reform Act, which will improve the H-1B visa program so that it works for U.S. professionals and the people employed on H-1B visas, not just employers. I also thank Senators Blumenthal, Brown, Sanders, and Tuberville for joining as original co-sponsors. 

When used as intended, the H-1B program can play an important role in our economy by attracting skilled and talented workers to the United States. Unfortunately, today employers regularly misuse the H-1B program to lower standards for middle-class professionals, outsource and offshore good jobs, and pay H-1B workers below market wages in arrangements where employers control their lives. 

The bipartisan H-1B and L-1 Visa Reform Act will go a long way toward reforming these visa programs by lifting wages, promoting worker empowerment, and ensuring that employees can exercise their workplace rights free of retaliation or coercion. 

I also urge the Biden administration to take administrative actions to help fix the broken H-1B program, including adopting a wage-based visa allocation process and updating the prevailing wage levels.

DPE renews its call for Congress to pass the H-1B and L-1 Visa Reform Act and send it to President Biden’s desk to become law.”

About DPE

The Department for Professional Employees, AFL-CIO (DPE) is a coalition of 24 unions representing over four million professional and technical union members. DPE affiliate unions represent professionals in over 300 occupations in education and healthcare; science, engineering, and technology; legal, business, and management; media, entertainment, and the arts; and public administration.