Rep. Paul Gosar (R-AZ) has introduced H.R. 2315, the Fairness for High-Skilled Americans Act, to eliminate the Optional Practical Training (OPT) program that businesses use to avoid hiring American graduates:
- OPT has grown more than 400% in recent years and is bigger than the H-1B program, which OPT was created to circumvent.
- Employers get a discount for NOT hiring Americans because they don't have to pay payroll taxes on OPT employees. The FICA fund loses out on $2.5 billion each year due to this.
- OPT visas are not merit-based, have no wage protections, and no restrictions or limitations.
Fewer than 50% of U.S. STEM graduates are finding jobs in STEM fields, while 53% of OPT workers are in STEM fields.
The OPT program is harming American STEM grads by giving companies a financial incentive to hire temporary foreign workers, even though the government is actively encouraging American students to study for STEM degrees.
Please send a message to your U.S. Representative and urge him/her to cosponsor H.R. 2315, the Fairness for High-Skilled Americans Act.
