[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 150 (Monday, September 19, 2022)]
[House]
[Pages H7912-H7914]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 BRIDGING THE GAP FOR NEW AMERICANS ACT

  Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and 
pass the bill (S. 3157) to require the Secretary of Labor to conduct a 
study of the factors affecting employment opportunities for immigrants 
and refugees with professional credentials obtained in foreign 
countries.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                                S. 3157

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

       This Act may be cited as the ``Bridging the Gap for New 
     Americans Act''.

     SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.

       In this Act:
       (1) Applicable immigrants and refugees.--The term 
     ``applicable immigrants and refugees''--
       (A) means individuals who--
       (i)(I) are not citizens or nationals of the United States; 
     and
       (II) are lawfully present in the United States and 
     authorized to be employed in the United States; or
       (ii) are naturalized citizens of the United States who were 
     born outside of the United States and its outlying 
     possessions; and
       (B) includes individuals described in section 602(b)(2) of 
     the Afghan Allies Protection Act of 2009 (title VI of 
     division F of Public Law 111-8; 8 U.S.C. 1101 note).
       (2) Other terms.--Except as otherwise defined in this 
     section, terms used in this Act have the definitions given 
     such terms under section 101(a) of the Immigration and 
     Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1101(a)).

     SEC. 3. STUDY ON FACTORS AFFECTING EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES 
                   FOR IMMIGRANTS AND REFUGEES WITH PROFESSIONAL 
                   CREDENTIALS OBTAINED IN FOREIGN COUNTRIES.

       (a) Study Required.--
       (1) In general.--The Secretary of Labor, in coordination 
     with the Secretary of State, the Secretary of Education, the 
     Secretary of Health and Human Services, the Secretary of 
     Commerce, the Secretary of Homeland Security, the 
     Administrator of the Internal Revenue Service, and the 
     Commissioner of the Social Security Administration, shall 
     conduct a study of the factors affecting employment 
     opportunities in the United States for applicable immigrants 
     and refugees who have professional credentials that were 
     obtained in a country other than the United States.
       (2) Work with other entities.--The Secretary of Labor shall 
     seek to work with relevant nonprofit organizations and State 
     agencies to use the existing data and resources of such 
     entities to conduct the study required under paragraph (1).
       (3) Limitations on disclosure.--Any information provided to 
     the Secretary of Labor in connection with the study required 
     under paragraph (1)--
       (A) may only be used for the purposes of, and to the extent 
     necessary to ensure the efficient operation of, such study; 
     and
       (B) may not be disclosed to any other person or entity 
     except as provided under this subsection.
       (b) Inclusions.--The study required under subsection (a)(1) 
     shall include--
       (1) an analysis of the employment history of applicable 
     immigrants and refugees admitted to the United States during 
     the 5-year period immediately preceding the date of the 
     enactment of this Act, which shall include, to the extent 
     practicable--
       (A) a comparison of the employment applicable immigrants 
     and refugees held before immigrating to the United States 
     with the employment they obtained in the United States, if 
     any, since their arrival; and
       (B) the occupational and professional credentials and 
     academic degrees held by applicable immigrants and refugees 
     before immigrating to the United States;
       (2) an assessment of any barriers that prevent applicable 
     immigrants and refugees from using occupational experience 
     obtained outside the United States to obtain employment in 
     the United States;
       (3) an analysis of available public and private resources 
     assisting applicable immigrants and refugees who have 
     professional experience and qualifications obtained outside 
     of the United States to obtain skill-appropriate employment 
     in the United States; and
       (4) policy recommendations for better enabling applicable 
     immigrants and refugees who have professional experience and 
     qualifications obtained outside of the United States to 
     obtain skill-appropriate employment in the United States.
       (c) Report.--Not later than 18 months after the date of the 
     enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Labor shall--
       (1) submit a report to Congress that describes the results 
     of the study conducted pursuant to subsection (a); and
       (2) make such report publicly available on the website of 
     the Department of Labor.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Virginia (Mr. Scott) and the gentleman from New York (Mr. Sempolinski) 
each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Virginia.


                             General Leave

  Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all 
Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their 
remarks and include extraneous material on S. 3157, the Bridging the 
Gap for New Americans Act.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Virginia?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Mr. Speaker, each year, millions of immigrants and refugees come to 
the United States to find a better life and achieve the American Dream. 
Many of these new Americans arrive with valuable experiences in 
specialized fields and international degrees that could help strengthen 
our communities and our economy.
  Regrettably, we know that these Americans face barriers that prevent 
them from utilizing their skills and credentials to contribute to our 
country and pursue their careers. In fact, nearly 2 million highly 
skilled immigrants are underemployed or working in low-skilled jobs 
instead of their expert fields.
  These barriers directly affect our economy, costing tens of billions 
of dollars in forgone wages and billions in lost Federal, State, and 
local tax payments each year.
  In response, the Bridging the Gap for New Americans Act will help us 
better understand not only the employment barriers facing immigrants 
and refugees but also steps we can take to ensure that new Americans 
can join our economic growth and pursue careers in which they can 
succeed to their fullest potential.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge a ``yes'' vote on this bill, and I reserve the 
balance of my time.

[[Page H7913]]

  

  Mr. SEMPOLINSKI. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the Bridging the Gap for New 
Americans Act. I applaud our colleagues in the Senate for approving 
this bill this summer by unanimous consent. I also acknowledge our 
colleague, Mr.   John Katko, for his work on a companion bill in the 
House.
  S. 3157 directs the Secretary of Labor to conduct a study on barriers 
to employment for legal immigrants and refugees who earn their 
professional credentials somewhere other than the United States. The 
study will also include policy recommendations for better helping these 
immigrants and refugees obtain skill-appropriate employment in the 
United States.
  Obstacles for foreign-educated immigrants and refugees who are 
legally in the United States but are unemployed or underemployed 
include language barriers, credential recognition difficulties, 
regulatory hurdles, and a lack of professional networks to offer 
assistance.
  This underutilization of skills, or brain waste, is costing the 
United States billions of dollars per year in lost individual earnings, 
economic output, and tax revenue.
  The healthcare sector is especially impacted by this challenge. Two 
million immigrants with college degrees in the United States have been 
relegated to low-wage jobs or unable to find work, often because of 
licensing, credential recognition, and other barriers. This leaves 
immigrants and refugees unable to contribute fully to the economy, 
reach their full potential, or secure the American Dream.
  In addition to providing recommendations for addressing these 
challenges for individual immigrants and their families, S. 3157 will 
benefit all Americans and our economy. With too many jobs still going 
unfilled and a rapidly evolving labor market, it is vital we address 
this issue now.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support S. 3157, and I reserve 
the balance of my time.
  Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the 
gentleman from Colorado (Mr. Crow), the chair of the Subcommittee on 
Innovation, Entrepreneurship, and Workforce Development of the Small 
Business Committee.
  Mr. CROW. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of S. 3157, a bill to 
help eliminate barriers to employment facing immigrants and refugees 
across the country.
  I represent one of the most diverse districts in Colorado, and we 
know in Colorado and in my community that diversity is our strength.
  Many of our immigrant refugee neighbors have skills and professional 
credentials they can't use because of regulatory hurdles. These 
hurdles, whether language barriers, difficulty in recognizing 
credentials, or a lack of professional networks, prevent many from 
making a good living for their families or contributing fully to our 
economy in reaching their full potential.
  The unemployment and underemployment of these folks is a missed 
opportunity for our businesses, for our community, and for our country.
  In 2016, across the U.S., nearly 2 million immigrants with college 
degrees were unable to find work or were employed in low-wage jobs. 
This includes more than one-third of the 11,000 immigrants in the State 
of Colorado with health-related undergraduate degrees in 2020.
  Identifying these barriers to full employment for these immigrants 
and refugees is an essential first step to overcoming them. This bill 
would direct the Department of Labor to conduct a collaborative 
interagency study of the barriers that hold back refugees and 
immigrants from their full potential.
  I thank Senator Klobuchar and Congressman Katko for their diligence 
in this effort, and I urge my colleagues to join us in supporting 
passage of this bill today.
  Mr. SEMPOLINSKI. Mr. Speaker, I yield 4 minutes to the gentleman from 
New York (Mr. Katko), my friend.

                              {time}  1615

  Mr. KATKO. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of S. 3157, the Bridging 
the Gap for New Americans Act. This legislation's journey to the House 
floor began in my office 3 years ago and was born out of a conversation 
with Interfaith Works of Central New York, a nonprofit in my district.
  Interfaith Works serves the Central New York community by working to 
resettle individuals and families that have fled unimaginable hardship, 
seeking opportunity and prosperity legally, legally, in the United 
States.
  As advocates from the organization with firsthand experience 
described, Interfaith's resettlement efforts consistently encounter a 
troubling trend; underemployment or unemployment among individuals that 
come to America with professional degrees and certifications from other 
countries.
  This phenomenon, often referred to as ``brain waste,'' impacts 
individuals with skills and experiences in a wide range of in-demand 
fields, and it is by no means isolated to Central New York.
  A study by the Migration Policy Institute estimated that 2 million 
immigrants and refugees with college degrees have been relegated to 
low-wage jobs or left unemployed in the U.S., with 60 percent of these 
individuals holding credentials in the healthcare sector.
  On an annual basis, this untapped talent is estimated to cost nearly 
$40 billion in uncollected wages and over $10 billion in unrealized tax 
receipts.
  Simply put, these are individuals who came to our country through the 
proper channels--and I can't stress that enough--who want to contribute 
to our economy, and who are now facing significant obstacles in seeking 
employment through no fault of their own.
  Most concerningly, the underutilization of their skills comes in the 
midst of a nationwide workforce crisis, when our economy needs their 
contributions more than nearly any point in my lifetime.
  So, what is Congress going to do about it?
  I am proud to say that the Bridging the Gap for New Americans Act 
takes a significant first step in addressing brain waste and enabling 
millions of individuals who are already legally present in the United 
States to participate fully in our economy.
  This bill would seek to identify the underlying factors that 
contribute to brain waste by directing the Department of Labor to study 
existing barriers and issue recommendations to help combat them.
  Critically, the narrowly tailored consensus approach taken by this 
legislation has already received strong bipartisan support, with the 
legislation passing in the Senate by unanimous consent earlier this 
year.
  The Bridging the Gap for New Americans Act also has significant 
support nationwide and has been endorsed by over 200 workforce 
development groups and community organizations.
  I thank Representatives Crow, Fitzpatrick, and Gottheimer for joining 
me in introducing the House version of this bill in a bipartisan 
manner, as well as Senators Klobuchar and Cornyn for their work to move 
this legislation through the Senate.
  I also thank the hundreds of national advocates who have worked 
tirelessly to raise awareness surrounding this brain waste and to build 
support for this commonsense legislation.
  This bill is about upholding the American Dream and unlocking 
opportunities for millions of workers, and I urge all my colleagues to 
join me in voting to send it to the President's desk.
  Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I am prepared to close. I reserve 
the balance of my time.
  Mr. SEMPOLINKSI. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support the Bridging the Gap for 
New Americans Act. This bill will help us understand how to give legal 
immigrants with professional credentials more access to opportunities 
in our country.
  Immigrants and refugees who spent years earning college degrees and 
professional credentials should not be relegated to low-wage jobs 
because they were educated outside of the United States.
  Those pursuing a better life and respecting our laws should be 
commended, not punished. S. 3157 will shed light on the bureaucratic 
hurdles and

[[Page H7914]]

unnecessary red tape these workers face and how we might remove these 
obstacles.
  It would be foolish of us to let good talent go to waste, especially 
as our country continues to face a labor shortage, particularly in the 
healthcare sector.
  This legislation is common sense. It will help immigrants and 
refugees who are in our country legally fulfill their potential, better 
provide for their families, and become even more of an asset to our 
economy. I urge a ``yes'' vote on this bill, and I yield back the 
balance of my time.
  Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my 
time.
  Mr. Speaker, as my colleagues have pointed out, the Bridging the Gap 
for New Americans Act is particularly critical as we continue to 
recover from the economic consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic. Now, 
more than ever, we must draw from the skills of our Nation's immigrants 
and refugees to accelerate our recovery and strengthen our communities.
  In other words, this bill will ensure that the new Americans can re-
establish their careers, succeed to their full potential, and join the 
effort to build back a brighter future for all Americans.
  I thank the gentleman from New York (Mr. Sempolinski), the gentleman 
from New York (Mr. Katko), the gentleman from Colorado (Mr. Crow), the 
gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Fitzpatrick), and the gentleman from 
New Jersey (Mr. Gottheimer), as well as Senator Klobuchar of Minnesota, 
Senator Cornyn of Texas, Senator Coons of Delaware, and Senator 
Murkowski from Alaska, for their leadership on this legislative 
priority.
  I urge my colleagues to support the legislation, and I yield back the 
balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Scott) that the House suspend the rules 
and pass the bill, S. 3157.
  The question was taken.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds 
being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
  Mr. HICE of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
  The yeas and nays were ordered.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX, further 
proceedings on this motion will be postponed.

                          ____________________