Foster Leads Bipartisan Effort to Keep STEM Graduates in America

Washington, DC – Today, Reps. Bill Foster (D-IL), Mike Lawler (R-NY), Wiley Nickel (D-NC), and Sylvia Garcia (D-TX) introduced the bipartisan Keep STEM Talent Act to make certain advanced Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) degree holders eligible for permanent resident status. This would allow these graduates to remain in the United States following their graduation and would remove barriers for them to work in the United States.

"We must expand America's STEM workforce to compete in the global economy," said Congressman Bill Foster. "Our country gives international STEM students world-class educations, only to turn them away when they want to stay in the United States after graduation and contribute their skills to our economy. Allowing these graduates to stay would help put our country on the cutting edge of scientific research and technological development and create good-paying American jobs along the way. I'm proud to lead this bipartisan effort to build up our STEM workforce."

“I’m proud to join my colleagues in introducing the bipartisan Keep STEM Talent Act of 2023. Our colleges and universities are some of the best in the world, and every year, hundreds of thousands of international students come to our shores for a world-class education, only to take that knowledge and talent with them when they leave. The Keep STEM Talent Act will enable more international students who have completed advanced STEM degrees from U.S. institutions to continue working in the U.S. when they graduate. This will enable them to contribute to our economy and help America retain its position as the world leader in science and technology," said Congressman Mike Lawler.

“I’m proud to partner with Congressman Foster and Congressman Lawler on this common sense, bipartisan legislation to help bolster scientific and technological research here in the United States,” said Congressman Wiley Nickel. “North Carolina is home to many prestigious colleges and universities, attracting international talent from all over the world. To remain at the forefront of cutting edge scientific and technological research and innovation, we need to ensure that international students that come to North Carolina for their higher education are able to stay in the United States once their degree is completed.”

A copy of the bill is available here. 

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