King Cosponsors Bipartisan Legislation to Allow International Students Remain in the U.S.

April 07, 2025
WASHINGTON, D.C. –U.S. Senator Angus King (I-ME) is cosponsoring bipartisan legislation to help international students with degrees in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) remain in the United States. TheKeep STEM Talent Actwould streamline the bureaucratic process for international students to obtain legal status and bolster the United States’ STEM labor force. The legislation would ensure that American born participants in the STEM labor market receive preference in the hiring process.
“In order for the U.S. to remain a leader in science and technology, we need highly skilled STEM graduates to stick around after graduation—even if they were born abroad,”said Senator King.“TheKeep STEM Talent Actis a commonsense step toward keeping the world’s brightest minds in STEM in the U.S., while ensuring American born workers retain a leg-up in the job market.”
Specifically, theKeep STEM Talent Act:
Endorsers of theKeep STEM Talent Actinclude: the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers USA; American Mathematical Society; American Physical Society; the Department for Professional Employees, AFL-CIO; American Federation of Teachers; SPIE, the international society for optics and photonics; Association of American Universities; Information Technology Industry Council; American Council on Education; International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers; Society of Women Engineers; NAFSA: Association of International Educators; Optica; American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations.
In addition to Senator King, this legislation is sponsored by Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Mike Rounds (R-SD).
As a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, and Senate Energy & Natural Resources Committee, Senator King is a staunch supporter of promoting American innovation in emerging technologies. In addition toadvocating for US technology independenceandexpanding broadband connectionsacross America, King hassupported expanding STEM educationfor Maine students.
The full text of the resolution is available here.
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