Possible Amendments to Chairman Arlen Specter’s (R-PA) Mark

Posted March 24, 2006

There are over 200 amendments to the Chairman’s mark that have been prepared by various senators. It is uncertain what amendments may be offered for introduction or, if introduced, what would pass. Two senators have amendments that are of great interest to higher education.

Senator Charles Grassley (R-Iowa) has a series of amendments on the H-1B provisions, the most egregious is the elimination of all of the higher education exemptions from the H-1B visa cap. The amendment would also raise the overall H-1B cap from 65,000 to 200,000. Another amendment would eliminate only the limited exemption in current law for internationals with advanced degrees in science, technology, engineering, and math. Remaining amendments would strike the proposed increase in the H-1B cap and strike the proposed market-based cap increases.

Grassley Amendments (20kb)

Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) has a series of amendments prepared. One amendment would remove all the international student provisions from the mark. A second would remove the provisions that would: 1) exempt certain workers from the permanent green card cap; 2) allow for “special handling” labor certification for U.S. educated STEM graduates; 3) the H-1B cap increases; and 4) exemption for STEM advanced degrees from the cap. A third amendment would strike all the student provisions except the provision allowing students to work off campus. A fourth amendment would make only one change, requiring a $2,000 fee instead of the $1,000 fee in the mark for an adjustment of status filing by an F-4 who fits all the criteria for adjustment.

Feinstein Amendments (30kb )

NAFSA is advocating, along with coalition partners, for the inclusion of the student provisions of the Chairman’s Mark in any final version of immigration reform. We are also advocating against amendments that would eliminate existing H-1B cap exemptions or for removal of the international student provisions from the Chairman’s Mark.