A Democratic lawmaker has introduced legislation in the U.S. House of Representatives aimed at reversing new restrictions on the H-1B visa program imposed by President Donald Trump.
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Representative Bonnie Watson Coleman, a New Jersey Democrat, introduced the measure. Known as the Welcoming International Success Act (WISA Act), the legislation would nullify a September 2025 proclamation Trump signed that significantly tightened conditions for companies sponsoring H-1B visa holders, according to a news release.
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Watson Coleman said the steep fees created significant barriers for institutions that depend on highly skilled international employees. In announcing the proposal, the congresswoman said the restrictions had increased hiring costs for businesses and research organizations that rely on global talent.
The proposed legislation would eliminate the additional fee and reverse the wage changes introduced under the proclamation. Supporters say the move would restore previous hiring conditions and make it easier for employers to recruit skilled workers from abroad.
Watson Coleman said the U.S. is facing a growing nursing shortage driven by an aging workforce, pandemic-related burnout and restrictions on H-1B visas. She also pointed to recent limits on federal student loans for nursing degrees introduced during the Trump administration, arguing that the combination of factors had created a “perfect storm” for the health care workforce.
The fee is aimed at curbing program misuse and encouraging employers to hire higher-paid U.S. workers, according to the federal government.
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In February, a bipartisan group of 100 members of Congress urged the administration to exempt the health care sector from the $100,000 H-1B visa fee. In a letter to Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, the lawmakers—led by Representatives Yvette D. Clarke, a New York Democrat, and Michael Lawler, a New York Republican—said health care providers depended on international workers to fill critical roles, including physicians, clinical laboratory staff and other specialized positions.
Some GOP lawmakers have gone beyond tweaking H‑1B rules, instead introducing legislation that would end the visa program entirely. Representative Greg Steube of Florida proposed the Ending Exploitative Imported Labor Exemptions (EXILE) Act, which would phase out the H‑1B visa by 2027 by reducing its annual allocations to zero if enacted.
Several Republican-led states have moved to restrict H-1B hiring at public institutions and state agencies. In Texas, Governor Greg Abbott has frozen new H-1B petitions through May 31, 2027, while Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has directed the state’s Board of Governors to suspend H-1B hiring at public universities. On March 2, the Florida Board of Governors approved a one-year ban on hiring new faculty and staff at the state’s 12 public universities through the H-1B visa program. The pause, which took effect immediately, is set to remain in place through at least January 5, 2027.
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