King Seeking to Remove Green Card Cap for STEM Graduates, Bolster American Workforce

January 31, 2024
WASHINGTON, D.C.– U.S. Senator Angus King (I-ME) is cosponsoring a bipartisan bill removing the green card cap for graduates with certain science and technology advanced degrees and a job offer in the United States. TheKeep Stem Talent Actof 2023would provide graduates that have completed advanced Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) degrees from U.S. educational institutions and American job offers with lawful permanent resident (LPR) status, exempting them from the employment-based green card cap.
Nearly two-thirds of U.S. graduate students in key fields such as artificial intelligence (AI) and semiconductor-related programs were born abroad. Many of these international students that studied at U.S. institutions return to their home countries after their higher education is completed even if they wish to stay in America, resulting in them competing with the U.S. scientific community. Additionally, immigrantshave founded or cofounded nearly two-thirds (65% or 28 of 43) of the top AI companies in the United States,and seventy-seven percent of the leading U.S.-based AI companies were founded or cofounded by immigrants or the children of immigrants. TheKeep Stem Talent Act of 2023encourages foreign students with advanced STEM degrees, including a master’s degree or higher, to accept jobs in the United States.
“I agree with those who say when a bright young mind walks across a stage and graduates from America’s universities with a science-related degree, they should have a green card stapled to their diploma to immediately contribute to America’s tech sector,”said Senator King.“TheKeep STEM Talent Act of 2023would provide lawful permanent resident status for certain advanced STEM degree holders to support U.S. research in those key science and technology industries. We must continue working together to help advanced degree holders, like those from the University of Maine system, obtain resident status, while supporting emerging tech industries that are eager for top talent.”
More specifically, theKeep STEM Talent Act of 2023:
The bill is cosponsored 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.
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