1.This Act may be cited as the
American Innovation and Education Act
of 2011
.
<enum>I</enum><header>Attracting and
Retaining Innovators and Job Creators</header>
<section id="H8B1C60CB68594678889A395CEDD4A7F3" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>101.</enum><header>U.S. graduates in
science, technology, engineering, and mathematics</header>
<subsection id="HE22380D9AEC640398B7500849AF68DA7"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Advanced STEM
graduates</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section 203(b)(1)
of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1153(b)(1)) is amended—</text>
<paragraph id="H5C3354E4C05D45C9A911AD51961D7594"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">in the matter preceding subparagraph (A),
by striking <quote>(A) through (C)</quote> and inserting <quote>(A) through
(D)</quote>; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HE80F98708C824D0DB6BF606591E877F9"><enum>(2)</enum><text>by adding at the
end the following:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H0E5056CE8AE24248B0085E062FA07950" style="OLC">
<subparagraph id="H9F7083C02F34440888492F01D44F9DAF"><enum>(D)</enum><header>Advanced
graduates in science, technology, engineering and mathematics</header><text>An
alien is described in this subparagraph if—</text>
<clause id="HBE4A0B3D2BE348089B13AA35126879B1"><enum>(i)</enum><text>the alien
possesses a graduate degree at the level of master’s or higher in a field of
science, technology, engineering, or mathematics from a United States
institution of higher education that has been designated by the Director of the
National Science Foundation as a research institution or as otherwise excelling
at instruction in such fields;</text>
</clause><clause id="H7FF5CB0AFDAC4D6C9E4160D9C544D0C9"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>the alien has an
offer of employment from a United States employer in a field related to such
degree; and</text>
</clause><clause id="H2B927FD6AADB40B2A8E9AB6B562D4C7D"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>the employer is
offering and will offer wages that are at least—</text>
<subclause id="HEAFDF475F0A14CFF9FC06F73F990B5B4"><enum>(I)</enum><text>the actual wage
level paid by the employer to all other individuals with similar experience and
qualifications in the same occupational classification; or</text>
</subclause><subclause id="H036E2A1AEE73475F88507F52A071130C"><enum>(II)</enum><text>the prevailing
wage level for the occupational classification in the area of
employment;</text>
</subclause><continuation-text continuation-text-level="clause">whichever is
greater, based on the best information available as of the time of filing the
petition.</continuation-text></clause></subparagraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H2FBCCEB2A289488B894FC8013B54EB8A"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Cap
exemption</header><text>Section 201(b)(1) of the Immigration and Nationality
Act (8 U.S.C. 1151(b)(1)) is amended by adding at the end the following:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H137ECCBC1E7E475F9682E1C31AACF52B" style="OLC">
<subparagraph id="H69F7BEDAC7604199A033A8AB5F4BCFDA" indent="up1"><enum>(F)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Aliens described in paragraph (1)(B) or
(1)(D) of section
203(b).</text>
</subparagraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</subsection><subsection id="HC9479EBD697C476A95F4179086B43FF0"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Removing visa
hurdles for students</header>
<paragraph id="H1DC15D16141C42E088D196C0C65E3DCE"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Providing dual
intent</header>
<subparagraph id="HBDF6907D7AC3465990363AA2E61F876F"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>Section 101(a)(15)(F)(i) of the Immigration and
Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1101(a)(15)(F)(i)) is amended by striking <quote>an
alien having a residence in a foreign country which he has no intention of
abandoning, who is a bona fide student qualified to pursue a full course of
study and who</quote> and inserting <quote>an alien who is a bona fide student
qualified to pursue a full course of study, who (except for a student qualified
to pursue a full course of study at an institution of higher education) has a
residence in a foreign country which the alien has no intention of abandoning,
and who</quote>.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="HBDD8A20C04D3490CB3F91399597AC599"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Conforming
amendments</header>
<clause id="H768137B7019E4910A84327B14B1F86A8"><enum>(i)</enum><text>Section 214(b) of
the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1184(b)) is amended by striking
<quote>(other than a nonimmigrant</quote> and inserting <quote>(other than a
nonimmigrant described in section 101(a)(15)(F) if the alien is qualified to
pursue a full course of study at an institution of higher education, other than
a nonimmigrant</quote>.</text>
</clause><clause id="HF4D957D5662947D08B7A4666777450A4"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>Section 214(h) of
the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1184(h)) is amended by inserting
<quote>(F) (if the alien is qualified to pursue a full course of study at an
institution of higher education),</quote> before <quote>H(i)(b)</quote>.</text>
</clause></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H0B6BADF949764DECA5B5C147F8E514CD"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Definitions</header><text>Section
101(a) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1101(a)) is amended by
adding at the end the following:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H1698FE0C64B54C8996688E1C61A13CE4" style="OLC">
<paragraph commented="no" id="HD84EC359859C4C34984568F4E8E16EE3"><enum>(52)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The term <quote>institution of higher
education</quote> has the meaning given such term in section 101(a) of the
Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001(a)).</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HBCF1E257813D4F3A9CFD76D10264667F"><enum>(53)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The term <quote>employer</quote> shall
include any group treated as a single employer under subsection (b), (c), (m),
or (o) of section 414 of the Internal Revenue Code of
1986.</text>
</paragraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="HFF85646FDCB346BA90C13999D2CD268B"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Conforming
amendments</header><text>Section 204(a)(1)(F) of the Immigration and
Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1154(a)(1)(F)) is amended—</text>
<paragraph id="HA02682E8861344678AA58EA4A17F88AC"><enum>(1)</enum><text>by inserting
<quote>203(b)(1)(D),</quote> after <quote>203(b)(1)(C),</quote>; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HFC1AA4C6BBB147EE8AB19833511518DB"><enum>(2)</enum><text>by striking
<quote>Attorney General</quote> and inserting <quote>Secretary of Homeland
Security</quote>.</text>
</paragraph></subsection></section><section commented="no" id="H96028BF94B904D78AC16B9DCA7FA9898"><enum>102.</enum><header>Eliminating
green card backlogs</header>
<subsection commented="no" id="H958F31DAE0F24FCBA747483A22C4DC6C"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Per Country
Levels</header><text>Section 202(a) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8
U.S.C. 1152(a)) is amended—</text>
<paragraph commented="no" id="HB9EF0E6BBF4F44CFA4F2E10BDFBB2390"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">in paragraph (2)—</text>
<subparagraph commented="no" id="H0A1996CDBE2A4F37808F97090A82F71C"><enum>(A)</enum><text>by striking
<quote>, (4), and (5)</quote> and inserting <quote>and (4)</quote>;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" id="HFE1AFF280225490486DCF1161BCEBE34"><enum>(B)</enum><text>by striking
<quote>subsections (a) and (b) of section 203</quote> and inserting
<quote>section 203(a)</quote>;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" id="H5620ED5062B148AB996D008368445D02"><enum>(C)</enum><text>by striking
<quote>7 percent (in the case of a single foreign state) or 2 percent</quote>
and inserting <quote>15 percent (in the case of a single foreign state) or 5
percent</quote>; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" id="H6CAB3AB936854830BF7325BF7A6E88D9"><enum>(D)</enum><text>by striking
<quote>such subsections</quote> and inserting <quote>such section</quote>;
and</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" id="H6E126BF2B8AB40AB9B4FCB2262C007F1"><enum>(2)</enum><text>by striking
paragraph (5).</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection commented="no" id="HDBCF0172A1324BFFAD824D1496C83867"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Country-Specific
Offset</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section 2 of the
Chinese Student Protection Act of 1992 (8 U.S.C. 1255 note) is amended—</text>
<paragraph commented="no" id="H94576E8F418D4201A436077CDFE9E010"><enum>(1)</enum><text>in subsection (a),
by striking <quote>subsection (e)</quote> and inserting <quote>subsection
(d)</quote>;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" id="H1155E16BCCDE496BA06DC48BAE576A7E"><enum>(2)</enum><text>by striking
subsection (d); and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" id="HC75CB83C126A48D99364F03E3350E2C2"><enum>(3)</enum><text>by redesignating
subsection (e) as subsection (d).</text>
</paragraph></subsection></section><enum>II</enum><header>Investing in the
Next Generation of Innovators and Job Creators</header>
<section id="HB2F2C94C3DDD4FE8920E420EDB796CB6"><enum>201.</enum><header>Investing in
STEM education for U.S. students</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 204(a)(1)(F) of the Immigration and
Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1154(a)(1)(F)), as amended by this Act, is further
amended—</text>
<paragraph id="H3735BE0BCB544696A060885C4088E0EE"><enum>(1)</enum><text>by striking
<quote>(F)</quote> and inserting <quote>(F)(i)</quote>; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H0B422A89646946B5A53D55579F426496"><enum>(2)</enum><text>by adding at the
end the following:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H6A0BCC0CA8F64B3788FDE8092FEC6BC9" style="OLC">
<clause id="H33DB2CC3790C4D2D89623992857932AD" indent="up1"><enum>(ii)</enum><subclause commented="no" display-inline="yes-display-inline" id="idF0839A2FCBC14EE697F1E7A97F7A7303"><enum>(I)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Secretary of Homeland Security shall
impose a fee on an employer (excluding any employer that is a primary or
secondary education institution, an institution of higher education, a
nonprofit entity related to or affiliated with any such institution, a
nonprofit entity which engages in established curriculum-related clinical
training of students registered at any such institution, a nonprofit research
organization, or a governmental research organization) filing a petition under
clause (i) to employ an alien entitled to classification under subparagraph (B)
or (D) of section 203(b)(1), section 203(b)(2), clause (i) or (ii) of section
203(b)(3)(A), section 203(b)(5) or section 203(b)(6).</text>
</subclause><subclause id="H71C7CD93737340DDB0D45B0057AB35CC" indent="up1"><enum>(II)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The amount of the fee shall be $2,000 for
each such petition except that the fee shall be half the amount for each such
petition by any employer with not more than 25 full-time equivalent employees
who are employed in the United States.</text>
</subclause><subclause id="H6C2C5A5185C247F0B8050B3570DC54CE" indent="up1"><enum>(III)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Fees collected under this clause shall be
deposited in the Treasury in accordance with section
286(s).</text>
</subclause></clause><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</paragraph></section><section id="H980F8F56881D4C16A22F8697BC5364C4"><enum>202.</enum><header>U.S. STEM
education and training account</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 286(s) of the Immigration and
Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1356(s)) is amended to read as follows:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HBCC572CAB27B4903A3298C90ABEDE93F" style="OLC">
<subsection id="H817084C1CCE04CFCAF9E8C8779250704"><enum>(s)</enum><header>STEM education
and training account</header>
<paragraph id="H60C7EE71D2734699853A811C289BF2EF"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In
general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">There is established
in the general fund of the Treasury a separate account, which shall be known as
the <quote>STEM Education and Training Account</quote>. Notwithstanding any
other section of this title, there shall be deposited as offsetting receipts
into the account all fees collected under section 204(a)(1)(F)(ii) and
paragraphs (9) and (11) of section 214(c).</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" id="H046FB1EA9C384BE7A3823C39AF912965"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Low-income STEM
scholarship program</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">60
percent of the amounts deposited into the STEM Education and Training Account
shall remain available to the Director of the National Science Foundation until
expended for scholarships described in section 414(d) of the American
Competitiveness and Workforce Improvement Act of 1998 for low-income students
enrolled in a program of study leading to a degree in science, technology,
engineering, or mathematics.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H3DA65214EA4E4F5D81B88D1ABCF4168C"><enum>(3)</enum><header>National Science
Foundation competitive grant program for K–12 science, technology, engineering
and mathematics education</header>
<subparagraph id="H36765F892CDC466488BFBE8EA69AB89B"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In
general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">15 percent of the
amounts deposited into the STEM Education and Training Account shall remain
available to the Director of the National Science Foundation until expended to
carry out a direct or matching grant program to support improvement in K–12
education, including through private-public partnerships.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H9B05215333B846A1A3C3CF7D87DF4F75"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Types of
programs covered</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Director
shall award grants to such programs, including those which support the
development and implementation of standards-based instructional materials
models and related student assessments that enable K–12 students to acquire an
understanding of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, as well as
to develop critical thinking skills; provide systemic improvement in training
K–12 teachers and education for students in science, technology, engineering,
and mathematics, including by supporting efforts to promote gender-equality
among students receiving such instruction; support the professional development
of K–12 science, technology, engineering and mathematics teachers in the use of
technology in the classroom; stimulate system-wide K–12 reform of science,
technology, engineering, and mathematics in rural, economically disadvantaged
regions of the United States; provide externships and other opportunities for
students to increase their appreciation and understanding of science,
technology, engineering, and mathematics (including summer institutes sponsored
by an institution of higher education for students in grades 7–12 that provide
instruction in such fields); involve partnerships of industry, educational
institutions, and community organizations to address the educational needs of
disadvantaged communities; provide college preparatory support to expose and
prepare students for careers in science, technology, engineering, and
mathematics; and provide for carrying out systemic reform activities under
section 3(a)(1) of the National Science Foundation Act of 1950 (42 U.S.C.
1862(a)(1)).</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="HA0555C351A71482CB69C9B18EAB3DEA1"><enum>(4)</enum><header>STEM capacity
building at minority-serving institutions</header>
<subparagraph id="HA9B903EB21504A3F8C441EE0E98DBAC2"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In
general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">12 percent of the
amounts deposited into the STEM Education and Training Account shall remain
available to the Director of the National Science Foundation until expended to
establish or expand programs to award grants on a competitive, merit-reviewed
basis to enhance the quality of undergraduate science, technology, engineering,
and mathematics education at minority-serving institutions of higher education
and to increase the retention and graduation rates of students pursuing degrees
in such fields at such institutions.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H5926EA02DFC14137B93BA98418E4CD0F"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Types of
programs covered</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Grants
awarded under this paragraph shall be awarded to—</text>
<clause id="H951DD039286A4726B99B0C0FF779DF55"><enum>(i)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">minority-serving institutions of higher
education for—</text>
<subclause id="H54000B8B0C704B738E2D4414985273C7"><enum>(I)</enum><text>activities to
improve courses and curriculum in science, technology, engineering, and
mathematics;</text>
</subclause><subclause id="H21AF59FC6A63425E85CADFD927CB6770"><enum>(II)</enum><text>efforts to
promote gender equality among students enrolled in such courses;</text>
</subclause><subclause id="H4435D71538C04A5B8F7E9D9FA6120766"><enum>(III)</enum><text>faculty
development;</text>
</subclause><subclause id="H7F879703E3274621AF21A46E52AC3FC3"><enum>(IV)</enum><text>stipends for
undergraduate students participating in research; and</text>
</subclause><subclause id="H82B711B4BF1E42498BFD69CED9A63F6E"><enum>(V)</enum><text>other activities
consistent with subparagraph (A), as determined by the Director; and</text>
</subclause></clause><clause id="H920FD1314EB54A66AE7D3E9BA3967F5A"><enum>(ii)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">to other institutions of higher education
to partner with the institutions described in clause (i) for—</text>
<subclause id="HE3C5DE85A273428A87A56F9C031E3C33"><enum>(I)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">faculty and student development and
exchange;</text>
</subclause><subclause id="HEB6AAC81D22948C5BB4BC701A92B20FD"><enum>(II)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">research infrastructure development;</text>
</subclause><subclause id="H0D0FFA8CA2834186BE3AE7A9D5B6C0AB"><enum>(III)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">joint research projects; and</text>
</subclause><subclause id="HA452BEB6E939416791D91DE07B6E3F5C"><enum>(IV)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">identification and development of minority
and low-income candidates for graduate studies in science, technology,
engineering and mathematics degree programs.</text>
</subclause></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H6BFFF4E7937F4AB8893460C82FD96748"><enum>(C)</enum><header>Institutions
included</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">In this paragraph,
the term <quote>minority-serving institutions of higher education</quote> shall
include—</text>
<clause id="H60F28C7876BE4C7E8B69A7EB86471A26"><enum>(i)</enum><text>colleges eligible
to receive funds under the Act of August 30, 1890 (7 U.S.C. 321–326a and 328),
including Tuskegee University;</text>
</clause><clause id="HA266F427F7484BCC88582CC10A1A33B7"><enum>(ii)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">1994 Institutions, as defined in section
532 of the Equity in Educational Land-Grant Status Act of 1994 (7 U.S.C. 301
note); and</text>
</clause><clause id="H10A06E358952465F987E5D8E0615BE75"><enum>(iii)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Hispanic-serving institutions, as defined
in section 502(a)(5) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C.
1101a(a)(5)).</text>
</clause></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H29ACB2FAF9384F4497BF469BF424BE9F"><enum>(5)</enum><header>STEM job
training</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">10 percent of
amounts deposited into the STEM Education and Training Account shall remain
available to the Secretary of Labor until expended for—</text>
<subparagraph id="HA7E302A109AE4EEEBF40D0D3E6FA4700"><enum>(A)</enum><text>demonstration
programs and projects described in section 414(c) of the American
Competitiveness and Workforce Improvement Act of 1998; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" id="HBAFD388FD9B046E9A0862E9548DE1C59"><enum>(B)</enum><text>training programs
in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics for persons
who have served honorably in the Armed Forces of the United States and have
retired or are retiring from such service.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H6750243FA2684BC08EBEB0894803B857"><enum>(6)</enum><header>Use of fees for
duties relating to petitions</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">1.5 percent of the amounts deposited into
the STEM Education and Training Account shall remain available to the Secretary
of Homeland Security until expended to carry out duties under paragraphs (1)
(E) or (F) of section 204(a) (related to petitions for immigrants described in
section 203(b)) and under paragraphs (1) and (9) of section 214(c) (related to
petitions made for nonimmigrants described in section
101(a)(15)(H)(i)(b)).</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H25E85FA48B314E0BBF5BDF74EFD68A2B"><enum>(7)</enum><header>Use of fees for
application processing and enforcement</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">1.5 percent of the amounts deposited into
the STEM Education and Training Account shall remain available to the Secretary
of Labor until expended for decreasing the processing time for applications
under section 212(a)(5)(A) and section
212(n)(1).</text>
</paragraph></subsection><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</section><enum>III</enum><header>Reducing
Administrative Hurdles To Foster Innovation and Job Creation</header>
<section commented="no" id="HF09E0A59B2914DD69CA4B45CDAF9F164"><enum>301.</enum><header>Streamlining
labor certifications</header>
<subsection commented="no" id="HEE44DB7CFD224393A35AF3AE3EB3149B"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>Section 212(a)(5)(A) of the Immigration and Nationality
Act (8 U.S.C. 1182(a)(5)(A)) is amended—</text>
<paragraph commented="no" id="H133A7E5B1A8F45E8B072F06D247DB794"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">in clause (ii)—</text>
<subparagraph commented="no" id="H68CF888A2F7042568DA791DCF6919CE8"><enum>(A)</enum><text>in subclause (I),
by striking <quote>or</quote>;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" id="HC07FBAD3A9D141A293D5E4C2CDDAC9D1"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">in subclause (II), by striking the period
and inserting <quote>, or</quote>;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" id="H34BCA46D6FD3422FB4ECFE9A4C7EEB4E"><enum>(C)</enum><text>by adding at the
end the following new subclause:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H6085D3848B9D402A8621DCE2AF85EAB0" style="OLC">
<subclause commented="no" id="HDD584B380A3342D4AC25420B16D17150"><enum>(III)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">is the beneficiary of a labor certification
application filed by an employer designated as an Established U.S. Recruiter
under clause (vii).</text>
</subclause><after-quoted-block>;
and</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" id="H28206F59692F429B8E5601BF4B988A60"><enum>(2)</enum><text>by adding at the
end the following new clauses:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H3B16DACFD4914D6A8AAFBAD98DB96742" style="OLC">
<clause commented="no" id="H014EE9C03B1E4C5EA3BEC7DC4C3358EF"><enum>(v)</enum><header>Processing
standards</header>
<subclause commented="no" id="HE212C48AEB4F44A28487E6B0EFE99B13"><enum>(I)</enum><header>Timeframes</header><text>The
Secretary of Labor shall adjudicate an application for certification under
clause (i) not later than 120 days after the date on which the application is
filed. In the event that additional information or documentation is requested
by the Secretary during such 120-day period, the Secretary shall adjudicate the
application not later than 60 days after the date on which such information or
documentation is received.</text>
</subclause><subclause commented="no" id="H5C506BBCAB3C46CDA124485EE44AC722"><enum>(II)</enum><header>Notice within
30 days of deficiencies</header><text>The employer shall be notified in writing
within 30 days of the date of filing if the application does not meet the
standards (other than that described in clause (i)(I)) for approval. If the
application does not meet such standards, the notice shall include the reasons
therefor and the Secretary shall provide an opportunity for the prompt
resubmission of a modified application.</text>
</subclause></clause><clause commented="no" id="H458129F77F98415DAC4E2041DC758C88"><enum>(vi)</enum><header>Fees</header>
<subclause commented="no" id="H94F40A0E077642ECAA446F97AB86A64E"><enum>(I)</enum><header>Application
fee</header><text>In addition to any other fees authorized by law, the
Secretary of Labor shall impose a fee on an employer that submits an
application for certification under clause (i). The amount of the fee shall be
$295 for each such application.</text>
</subclause><subclause commented="no" id="HDC1CC13E11954BA4879BADB51A70E955"><enum>(II)</enum><header>Premium
processing</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Secretary of
Labor is authorized to establish and collect an optional premium fee for
processing of applications for certification under clause (i). This fee shall
be set at $1,000 and shall be paid in addition to the application fee under
subclause (I). For an application in which the premium processing fee is paid,
the Secretary shall adjudicate the application not later than 30 days after the
date on which the application is filed. In the event that additional
information or documentation is requested by the Secretary with respect to such
application during the 30-day period, the Secretary shall adjudicate the
application not later than 30 days after the date on which such information or
documentation is received. If the Secretary does not comply with these
timeframes, the Secretary shall refund the premium processing fee to the
applicant.</text>
</subclause><subclause commented="no" id="H62E3A5A78B5440F3BF4C7BC572C56011"><enum>(III)</enum><header>Deposit of
fees</header><text>Fees collected under subclauses (I) and (II) shall be
deposited in the Treasury in accordance with section 286(w).</text>
</subclause><subclause commented="no" id="H739BE91BFFB948988F86C579B2FDE014"><enum>(IV)</enum><header>Prohibition on
employer accepting reimbursement of fee</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">An employer subject to a fee under this
clause shall not require or accept reimbursement of or other compensation for
all or part of the cost of such fee, directly or indirectly, from the alien on
whose behalf the application is filed.</text>
</subclause></clause><clause commented="no" id="H8400A70A14FB4E71BD3F9CC9A3046A60"><enum>(vii)</enum><header>Established
U.S. recruiters</header>
<subclause commented="no" id="HD6C69F0C662D4641A186B6A9E13524F2"><enum>(I)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>The Secretary of Labor shall establish a process for
employers to apply for designation as an Established U.S. Recruiter. An
employer seeking such designation must file an application with the Secretary
stating the following:</text>
<item commented="no" id="H6AE9A85D70404EDE8AF60D8C22DD1FB8"><enum>(aa)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">At least 80 percent of the employer’s
workforce in the United States are United States workers.</text>
</item><item commented="no" id="H458E119255C4415AB187151ED78BFFCE"><enum>(bb)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">At least 80 percent of the employer’s new
hires in the United States in the 5 years preceding the filing of the
application are United States workers.</text>
</item><item commented="no" id="H8E4662CA47E142D2AE69AE2FF41EC0D4"><enum>(cc)</enum><text>The employer
regularly posts employment opportunities on a publicly accessible Internet
website and has engaged in at least 3 other forms of active recruitment on an
annual basis over the preceding 3 years.</text>
</item><item commented="no" id="H2493C2F88CF44D93A41914DE09B96538"><enum>(dd)</enum><text>The employer will
continue to engage in the recruitment efforts described in item (cc) during the
certification period.</text>
</item><continuation-text commented="no" continuation-text-level="subclause">For the purposes of this clause, the
term <quote>United States worker</quote> shall include an alien with a pending
or approved petition under subparagraph (E) or (F) of section 204(a)(1).</continuation-text></subclause><subclause commented="no" id="H8AE6D17B63A74E0B880CC34B9583F780"><enum>(II)</enum><header>Designation</header>
<item commented="no" id="H7B83F7A1E75F4BB6AFEC4BCCA5EB0A08"><enum>(aa)</enum><header>Timely
adjudications</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Secretary
of Labor shall adjudicate an application for designation under subclause (I)
not later than 30 days after the date on which the application is filed. In the
event that additional information or documentation is requested by the
Secretary, the Secretary shall adjudicate the application not later than 30
days after the receipt of such information or documentation.</text>
</item><item commented="no" id="HB79DBD451F834883915783D9487E0651"><enum>(bb)</enum><header>Application
fee</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">In addition to any other
fees authorized by law, the Secretary of Labor may impose a fee on an employer
that submits an application for designation under subclause (I). The amount of
the fee shall be $500 for each such application. Fees collected under this
clause shall be deposited in the Treasury in accordance with section
286(w).</text>
</item><item commented="no" id="H8F0CCEAA9D47427FA70330DF6E75EEBE"><enum>(cc)</enum><header>Period of
designation</header><text>Unless terminated under item (dd), a designation
issued under this clause shall be valid for 3 years.</text>
</item><item commented="no" id="H68A7BA2B6D4A4F16BE2527F0397D07C2"><enum>(dd)</enum><header>Termination</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Secretary of Labor may terminate a
designation under subclause (I) if the Secretary determines that the
employer—</text>
<subitem commented="no" id="H5D4A2D0BEE6845CC9DAA64C4ED695780"><enum>(AA)</enum><text>did not fulfill
the requirements of such subclause at the time the certification was issued;
or</text>
</subitem><subitem commented="no" id="H5D70A9EAEE9745BE9DE0AE3CAA908175"><enum>(BB)</enum><text>failed to meet
the requirements under subclause (I)(ee) during the designation period
described in item (cc).</text>
</subitem></item></subclause><subclause commented="no" id="H3098BDAA27634A0B946B00C18B7FEF36"><enum>(III)</enum><header>Active
recruitment</header><text>For the purposes of this clause <quote>active
recruitment</quote> means any of the following:</text>
<item commented="no" id="HCD8589552F524D6BB33A54414E70C325"><enum>(aa)</enum><header>Employee
referral program</header><text>The employer operates an employee referral
program that includes meaningful incentives for employees to refer workers for
job openings.</text>
</item><item commented="no" id="H983DA608F10C402F971C008582BF9212"><enum>(bb)</enum><header>In-house
recruiters</header><text>The employer retains an in-house recruiter on a
full-time basis to recruit workers for job openings.</text>
</item><item commented="no" id="H5EFF1AD8204B4B7492EDEE542F6B54DC"><enum>(cc)</enum><header>Job
fairs</header><text>The employer recruits workers at job fairs that are
advertised in newspaper advertisements in which the employer is named as a
participant in such fairs.</text>
</item><item commented="no" id="HF4A9579B13CA4E9E8EA9601DEE08816C"><enum>(dd)</enum><header>Military
recruiting</header><text>The employer recruits workers during recruiting events
that are organized by the Armed Forces of the United States.</text>
</item><item commented="no" id="HCE9FDA72604B4515ACD3861C4BF844AB"><enum>(ee)</enum><header>On-campus
recruiting</header><text>The employer recruits workers at institutions of
higher education during recruiting events that are organized by such
institutions.</text>
</item><item commented="no" id="H83BB9E9568794C839388EFD99DC0DBFD"><enum>(ff)</enum><header>Private
employment firms</header><text>The employer regularly engages private
employment firms or placement agencies to recruit workers for job
openings.</text>
</item><item commented="no" id="H418410AABF1F4959AD3125A9A7DDE2D4"><enum>(gg)</enum><header>Trade or
professional organizations</header><text>The employer regularly advertises with
trade or professional organizations to recruit workers for job
openings.</text>
</item></subclause></clause><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection commented="no" id="H3C24C37ED59941CABAC02D20C0FC9F97"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Establishment of
account and use of funds</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section 286 of the Immigration and
Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1356) is amended by adding at the end the following
new subsection:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H1D81DD7C8761411398B72444A8829EC1" style="OLC">
<subsection commented="no" id="H953DA1A70B1B46D39590532C19D12DCC"><enum>(w)</enum><header>Labor
certification application fee account</header>
<paragraph commented="no" id="H9F9375E44B974FC686498DDF17C9D46C"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In
general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">There is established
in the general fund of the Treasury a separate account, which shall be known as
the <quote>Labor Certification Application Fee Account</quote>. Notwithstanding
any other section of this title, there shall be deposited as offsetting
receipts into the account all fees collected under section 212(a)(5)(A).</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" id="H48453DA1E16B4A158E905296A815B91C"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Use of
fees</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Amounts deposited into
the Labor Certification Application Fee Account shall remain available to the
Secretary of Labor until expended for carrying out labor certification
activities under section 212(a)(5)(A) (including providing premium processing
services) and to make infrastructure improvements in the adjudications and
customer-service processes related to such activities.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</subsection></section><section commented="no" id="H4FED7614917143B8949C4920673391E2"><enum>302.</enum><header>Streamlining
petitions for established employers</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 214(c) of the Immigration and
Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1184) is amended by adding at the end the following:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H64C33AB8C062463489C7646485B07337" style="OLC">
<paragraph commented="no" id="HBED3D3C341384A1A8E057B79F76BBE45" indent="up1"><enum>(15)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Secretary of Homeland Security shall
establish a pre-certification procedure for employers who file multiple
petitions described in this subsection or section 203(b). Such precertification
procedure shall enable an employer to avoid repeatedly submitting documentation
that is common to multiple petitions and establish, through a single filing,
criteria relating to the employer and the offered employment
opportunity.</text>
</paragraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</section><section commented="no" id="HBC3CBA6E43E44F718E2E420E45C3C644"><enum>303.</enum><header>Premium
processing</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 286(u) of
the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1356(u)) is amended—</text>
<paragraph commented="no" id="H2FF14396D4A9421BBE513E8827DBDBD6"><enum>(1)</enum><text>by striking
<quote>is authorized to</quote> and inserting <quote>shall</quote>; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" id="H8AC257BE836E4031A4479BC433DCDAA5"><enum>(2)</enum><text>at the end of the
first sentence, by striking <quote>applications.</quote> and inserting
<quote>applications, including an administrative appeal of any decision on an
employment-based immigrant petition.</quote>.</text>
</paragraph></section>