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American Tech Workforce Act of 2021
12/30/2022, 3:04 AM
Summary of Bill HR 6206
One key provision of the bill is the establishment of a grant program to support training programs for individuals seeking to enter the tech industry. These programs would focus on developing skills in high-demand areas such as coding, cybersecurity, and data analysis. The goal is to provide individuals with the necessary training to fill the growing number of tech-related job openings in the country.
Additionally, the bill includes provisions to encourage diversity in the tech workforce. This includes funding for programs that target underrepresented groups, such as women and minorities, and initiatives to promote diversity and inclusion in tech companies. Furthermore, the bill seeks to streamline the process for foreign workers to obtain visas for tech-related jobs in the United States. This is intended to help tech companies fill positions that cannot be filled by domestic workers and to ensure that the US remains competitive in the global tech industry. Overall, the American Tech Workforce Act of 2021 aims to address the skills gap in the tech industry, promote diversity in the workforce, and support the growth of the tech sector in the United States.
Congressional Summary of HR 6206
American Tech Workforce Act of 2021
This bill eliminates the Optional Practical Training Program and modifies requirements for H-1B visas (nonimmigrant workers in specialty occupations and fashion models). (The Optional Practical Training Program provides an eligible F-1 student visa holder temporary employment authorization before or after completion of the student's studies, or both.)
Under this bill, the employer must pay an H-1B visa holder the greater of (1) the annual wage paid to a U.S. worker who did identical or similar work in the two years before the employer's H-1B application; or (2) $110,000, with this amount to be adjusted annually for inflation. Currently, the H-1B visa holder must be paid the greater of (1) the employer's actual wage for similarly qualified U.S. workers in the specific position, or (2) the local prevailing wage for the occupational classification.
The bill also removes a requirement for the employer to provide the visa holder with working conditions such that the working conditions of similarly employed workers will not be affected.
The bill imposes limits on assigning H-1B visa holders to third-party work sites, such as limiting the visa validity period to one year if the visa holder performs any part of their assignment at a third-party work site.
The bill requires the H-1B applications with the highest listed compensation to be granted before those with lower listed compensation.
