[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 124 (Wednesday, July 19, 2023)]
[Senate]
[Pages S3152-S3153]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




          STATEMENTS ON INTRODUCED BILLS AND JOINT RESOLUTIONS

      By Mrs. FEINSTEIN (for herself, Mr. Blumenthal, Mr. Booker, Mr. 
        Menendez, Mr. Murphy, Mr. Padilla, and Mr. Whitehouse):
  S. 2381. A bill to require the search and retention of certain 
records with respect to conducting criminal background checks, and for 
other purposes; to the Committee on the Judiciary.
  Mrs. FEINSTEIN. Madam President, today I am reintroducing legislation 
that would help bolster the Nation's background check system for 
firearms.
  Under current law, incomplete background checks must be removed from 
the FBl's systems if they remain unresolved beyond the 88-day mark. As 
a result, countless firearms have been sold without completed 
background checks. This poses a grave danger because it allows 
individuals who we know are dangerous to purchase firearms.
  In recent years, gun sales across America have dramatically 
increased. In 2022, about 17.4 million guns were sold in the United 
States. Unfortunately, this surge in purchases has overwhelmed our 
already-strained background check system.
  While the vast majority of background checks are promptly completed 
within 3 days, the sheer volume of checks means that some checks will 
necessarily be delayed--and sometimes significantly delayed.
  According to data compiled by NBC News, between January 2020 and 
November 2021, the FBI was unable to resolve 734,604 background checks 
within the current 88-day window. As a result of these delays, the FBI 
was required to wipe the incomplete checks from their systems. Since 
these background checks were never completed, it is impossible to know 
how many of these firearms were transferred to purchasers who were 
prohibited by law from owning a gun.
  Congress must act to protect public safety by ensuring that all 
background checks are completed.
  This bill would do exactly that. It would grant the FBI the authority 
to retain gun purchase records until a background check is fully 
completed. Put simply, this bill will let the FBI do its job.
  I thank Senators Blumenthal, Booker, Menendez, Murphy, Padilla, and 
Whitehouse for their support, and I urge the rest of my colleagues to 
support the bill as well.
                                 ______
                                 
      By Mr. DURBIN (for himself and Mr. Rounds):
  S. 2384. A bill to provide lawful permanent resident status for 
certain advanced STEM degree holders, and for other purposes; to the 
Committee on the Judiciary.
  Mr. DURBIN. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of 
the bill be printed in the Record.
  There being no objection, the text of the bill was ordered to be 
printed in the Record, as follows:

                                S. 2384

       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 ``Keep STEM Talent Act of 
     2023''.

     SEC. 2. VISA REQUIREMENTS.

       (a) Graduate Degree Visa Requirements.--To be approved for 
     or maintain nonimmigrant status under section 101(a)(15)(F) 
     of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 
     1101(a)(15)(F)), a student seeking to pursue an advanced 
     degree in a STEM field (as defined in section 
     201(b)(1)(F)(ii) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 
     U.S.C. 1151(b)(1)(F)(ii))) (as amended by section 3(a)) for a 
     degree at the master's level or higher at a United States 
     institution of higher education (as defined in section 101(a) 
     of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001(a)) must 
     apply for admission prior to beginning such advanced degree 
     program.
       (b) Strengthened Vetting Process.--The Secretary of 
     Homeland Security and the Secretary of State shall establish 
     procedures to ensure that aliens described in subsection (a) 
     are admissible pursuant to section 212(a)(3)(A) of the 
     Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1182(a)(3)(A)). 
     Such procedures shall ensure that such aliens seeking 
     admission from within the United States undergo verification 
     of academic credentials, comprehensive background checks, and 
     interviews in a manner equivalent to that of an alien seeking 
     admission from outside of the United States. To the greatest 
     extent practicable, the Secretary of Homeland Security and 
     the Secretary of State shall also take steps to ensure that 
     such applications for admission are processed in a timely 
     manner to allow the pursuit of graduate education.
       (c) Reporting Requirement.--The Secretary of Homeland 
     Security and the Secretary of State shall submit an annual 
     report to the Committee on the Judiciary of the Senate and 
     the Committee on the Judiciary of the House of 
     Representatives detailing the implementation and 
     effectiveness of the requirement for foreign graduate 
     students pursuing advanced degrees in STEM fields to seek 
     admission prior to pursuing a graduate degree program. The 
     report shall include data on visa application volumes, 
     processing times, security outcomes, and economic impacts.

     SEC. 3. LAWFUL PERMANENT RESIDENT STATUS FOR CERTAIN ADVANCED 
                   STEM DEGREE HOLDERS.

       (a) Aliens Not Subject to Direct Numerical Limitations.--
     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:
       ``(F)(i) Aliens who--
       ``(I) have earned a degree in a STEM field at the master's 
     level or higher while physically present in the United States 
     from a United States institution of higher education (as 
     defined in section 101(a) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 
     ( 20 U.S.C. 1001(a))) accredited by an accrediting entity 
     recognized by the Department of Education;
       ``(II) have an offer of employment from, or are employed 
     by, a United States employer to perform work that is directly 
     related to

[[Page S3153]]

     such degree at a rate of pay that is higher than the median 
     wage level for the occupational classification in the area of 
     employment, as determined by the Secretary of Labor; and
       ``(III) have an approved labor certification under section 
     212(a)(5)(A)(i); or
       ``(IV) are the spouses and children of aliens described in 
     subclauses (I) through (III) who are accompanying or 
     following to join such aliens.
       ``(ii) In this subparagraph, the term `STEM field' means a 
     field of science, technology, engineering, or mathematics 
     described in the most recent version of the Classification of 
     Instructional Programs of the Department of Education 
     taxonomy under the summary group of--

       ``(I) computer and information sciences and support 
     services;
       ``(II) engineering;
       ``(III) mathematics and statistics;
       ``(IV) biological and biomedical sciences;
       ``(V) physical sciences;
       ``(VI) agriculture sciences; or
       ``(VII) natural resources and conservation sciences.''.

       (b) Procedure for Granting Immigration Status.--Section 
     204(a)(1)(F) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 
     1154(a)(1)(F)) is amended--
       (1) by striking ``203(b)(2)'' and all that follows through 
     ``Attorney General''; and
       (2) by inserting ``203(b)(2), 203(b)(3), or 201(b)(1)(F) 
     may file a petition with the Secretary of Homeland 
     Security''.
       (c) Labor Certification.--Section 212(a)(5)(D) of the 
     Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1182(a)(5)(D)) is 
     amended by inserting ``section 201(b)(1)(F) or under'' after 
     ``adjustment of status under''.
       (d) Dual Intent for F Nonimmigrants Seeking Advanced STEM 
     Degrees at United States Institutions of Higher Education.--
     Notwithstanding sections 101(a)(15)(F)(i) and 214(b) of the 
     Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1101(a)(15)(F)(i) 
     and1184(b)), an alien who is a bona fide student admitted to 
     a program in a STEM field (as defined in subparagraph (F)(ii) 
     of section 201(b)(1) of the Immigration and Nationality Act 
     (8 U.S.C. 1151(b)(1))) for a degree at the master's level or 
     higher at a United States institution of higher education (as 
     defined in section 101(a) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 
     (20 U.S.C. 1001(a))) accredited by an accrediting entity 
     recognized by the Department of Education may obtain a 
     student visa, be admitted to the United States as a 
     nonimmigrant student, or extend or change nonimmigrant status 
     to pursue such degree even if such alien seeks lawful 
     permanent resident status in the United States. Nothing in 
     this subsection may be construed to modify or amend section 
     101(a)(15)(F)(i) or 214(b) of the Immigration and Nationality 
     Act (8 U.S.C. 1101(a)(15)(F)(i) or 1184(b)), or any 
     regulation interpreting these authorities for an alien who is 
     not described in this subsection.

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