[117th Congress Public Law 210]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[[Page 136 STAT. 2245]]
Public Law 117-210
117th Congress
An Act
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. <<NOTE: Oct. 17,
2022 - [S. 3157]>>
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled, <<NOTE: Bridging the Gap
for New Americans Act.>>
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) <<NOTE: Coordination.>> 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.
[[Page 136 STAT. 2246]]
(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) <<NOTE: Analyses.>> Inclusions.--The study required under
subsection (a)(1) shall include--
(1) <<NOTE: Time period.>> 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) <<NOTE: Assessment.>> 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) <<NOTE: Recommenda- tions.>> 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
[[Page 136 STAT. 2247]]
(2) <<NOTE: Public information. Web posting.>> make such
report publicly available on the website of the Department of
Labor.
Approved October 17, 2022.
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY--S. 3157:
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CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 168 (2022):
June 23, considered and passed Senate.
Sept. 19, considered and passed House.
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