PROTECT Act of 2026

Sponsor: Mike Kennedy (Republican-UT)April 16, 2026

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Introduced

In Committee

Passed One Chamber

Passed Both Chambers

Signed into Law

Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.

Requires higher pay for many H-1B workers and eases visa fees for certain healthcare staff.

This bill would change the H-1B visa program, which allows U.S. employers to temporarily hire foreign workers in specialized jobs. It would set a higher minimum wage for these workers and make it easier for certain healthcare professionals to get visas by removing some fees. These changes aim to ensure H-1B workers are paid fairly and to support the healthcare sector.

What Would Change

Today, H-1B visa wages are based on prevailing rates, and petitions are often selected through a lottery. After this bill, H-1B workers would be guaranteed a minimum annual wage of $100,000 (adjusted for inflation) or the wage of similar U.S. workers, whichever is higher. Also, higher-paying H-1B petitions would be approved first, and certain healthcare workers would be exempt from visa fees.

Key Provisions

Requires employers to pay H-1B workers at least $100,000 a year, adjusted for inflation, or the wage paid to similar U.S. workers, whichever is greater.
Prioritizes H-1B visa applications that offer higher compensation over those offering lower pay.
Limits H-1B visas to one year if the worker is placed at another company's worksite.
Blocks H-1B visas for third-party worksites unless the job is clearly defined and expected to continue for the full duration.
Ends certain H-1B visa fees for healthcare workers if their employer tried to hire U.S. workers first and couldn't find a qualified candidate.

View on Congress.gov

HR 8335 · 119th Congress · April 16, 2026 · AI Summary by gemini-2.5-flash · 10/10

PROTECT Act of 2026

What Would Change

Key Provisions

Lobbying Activity