HouseH.R. 10400119th Congress

SMARTER Act

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[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 10400 Introduced in House (IH)]

<DOC>

119th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                               H. R. 10400

  To amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to establish a skills-
based immigration points system, to focus family-sponsored immigration 
on spouses and minor children, to eliminate the Diversity Visa Program, 
                        and for other purposes.

_______________________________________________________________________

                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                           September 15, 2026

Mr. Schweikert introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
                       Committee on the Judiciary

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL

 
  To amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to establish a skills-
based immigration points system, to focus family-sponsored immigration 
on spouses and minor children, to eliminate the Diversity Visa Program, 
                        and for other purposes.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Securing Migration, Addressing 
Reform, and Talent Enhancement and Retention Act'' or the ``SMARTER 
Act''.

SEC. 2. ELIMINATION OF DIVERSITY VISA PROGRAM.

    (a) In General.--Section 203 of the Immigration and Nationality Act 
(8 U.S.C. 1153) is amended by striking subsection (c).
    (b) Technical and Conforming Amendments.--
            (1) Immigration and nationality act.--The Immigration and 
        Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1101 et seq.) is amended--
                    (A) in section 101(a)(15)(V), by striking ``section 
                203(d)'' and inserting ``section 203(c)'';
                    (B) in section 201--
                            (i) in subsection (a)--
                                    (I) in paragraph (1), by adding 
                                ``and'' at the end; and
                                    (II) by striking paragraph (3); and
                            (ii) by striking subsection (e);
                    (C) in section 203--
                            (i) in subsection (b)(2)(B)(ii)(IV), by 
                        striking ``section 203(b)(2)(B)'' each place 
                        such term appears and inserting ``clause (i)'';
                            (ii) by redesignating subsections (d), (e), 
                        (f), (g), and (h) as subsections (c), (d), (e), 
                        (f), and (g), respectively;
                            (iii) in subsection (c), as redesignated, 
                        by striking ``subsection (a), (b), or (c)'' and 
                        inserting ``subsection (a) or (b)'';
                            (iv) in subsection (d), as redesignated--
                                    (I) by striking paragraph (2); and
                                    (II) by redesignating paragraph (3) 
                                as paragraph (2);
                            (v) in subsection (e), as redesignated, by 
                        striking ``subsection (a), (b), or (c) of this 
                        section'' and inserting ``subsection (a) or 
                        (b)'';
                            (vi) in subsection (f), as redesignated, by 
                        striking ``subsections (a), (b), and (c)'' and 
                        inserting ``subsections (a) and (b)''; and
                            (vii) in subsection (g), as redesignated--
                                    (I) by striking ``(d)'' each place 
                                such term appears and inserting 
                                ``(c)''; and
                                    (II) in paragraph (2)(B), by 
                                striking ``subsection (a), (b), or 
                                (c)'' and inserting ``subsection (a) or 
                                (b)'';
                    (D) in section 204--
                            (i) in subsection (a)(1), by striking 
                        subparagraph (I);
                            (ii) in subsection (e), by striking 
                        ``subsection (a), (b), or (c) of section 203'' 
                        and inserting ``subsection (a) or (b) of 
                        section 203''; and
                            (iii) in subsection (l)(2)--
                                    (I) in subparagraph (B), by 
                                striking ``section 203 (a) or (d)'' and 
                                inserting ``subsection (a) or (c) of 
                                section 203''; and
                                    (II) in subparagraph (C), by 
                                striking ``section 203(d)'' and 
                                inserting ``section 203(c)'';
                    (E) in section 214(q)(1)(B)(i), by striking 
                ``section 203(d)'' and inserting ``section 203(c)'';
                    (F) in section 216(h)(1), in the undesignated 
                matter following subparagraph (C), by striking 
                ``section 203(d)'' and inserting ``section 203(c)''; 
                and
                    (G) in section 245(i)(1)(B), by striking ``section 
                203(d)'' and inserting ``section 203(c)''.
            (2) Immigrant investor pilot program.--Section 610(d) of 
        the Departments of Commerce, Justice, and State, the Judiciary, 
        and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 1993 (Public Law 102-
        395) is amended by striking ``section 203(e) of such Act (8 
        U.S.C. 1153(e))'' and inserting ``section 203(d) of such Act (8 
        U.S.C. 1153(d))''.
    (c) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section shall take 
effect on the first day of the first fiscal year beginning on or after 
the date of the enactment of this Act.

SEC. 3. FAMILY-SPONSORED IMMIGRATION PRIORITIES.

    (a) Immediate Relative Redefined.--The Immigration and Nationality 
Act (8 U.S.C. 1101 et seq.) is amended--
            (1) in section 101(b)(1) (8 U.S.C. 1101(b)(1)), in the 
        matter preceding subparagraph (A), by striking ``means an 
        unmarried person under twenty-one years of age'' and inserting 
        ``means, for an individual with a petition pending as of the 
        date of enactment of the SMARTER Act, an unmarried person under 
        twenty-one years of age, or for an individual who was not the 
        subject of a pending immigration petition on the date of 
        enactment of the SMARTER Act, an unmarried person under the age 
        of 18''; and
            (2) in section 201 (8 U.S.C. 1151)--
                    (A) in subsection (b)(2)(A)--
                            (i) in clause (i), by striking ``children, 
                        spouses, and parents of a citizen of the United 
                        States, except that, in the case of parents, 
                        such citizens shall be at least 21 years of 
                        age.'' and inserting ``children and spouse of a 
                        citizen of the United States.''; and
                            (ii) in clause (ii), by striking ``such an 
                        immediate relative'' and inserting ``the 
                        immediate relative spouse of a United States 
                        citizen'';
                    (B) by striking subsection (c) and inserting the 
                following:
    ``(c) Worldwide Level of Family-Sponsored Immigrants.--(1) The 
worldwide level of family-sponsored immigrants under this subsection 
for a fiscal year is equal to 88,000 minus the number computed under 
paragraph (2).
    ``(2) The number computed under this paragraph for a fiscal year is 
the number of aliens who were paroled into the United States under 
section 212(d)(5) in the second preceding fiscal year who--
            ``(A) did not depart from the United States (without 
        advance parole) within 365 days; and
            ``(B)(i) did not acquire the status of an alien lawfully 
        admitted to the United States for permanent residence during 
        the two preceding fiscal years; or
            ``(ii) acquired such status during such period under a 
        provision of law (other than subsection (b)) that exempts 
        adjustment to such status from the numerical limitation on the 
        worldwide level of immigration under this section.''; and
                    (C) in subsection (f)--
                            (i) in paragraph (2), by striking ``section 
                        203(a)(2)(A)'' and inserting ``section 
                        203(a)'';
                            (ii) by striking paragraph (3);
                            (iii) by redesignating paragraph (4) as 
                        paragraph (3); and
                            (iv) in paragraph (3), as redesignated, by 
                        striking ``(1) through (3)'' and inserting 
                        ``(1) and (2)''.
    (b) Family-Based Visa Preferences.--Section 203(a) of the 
Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1153(a)) is amended to read 
as follows:
    ``(a) Spouses and Minor Children of Permanent Resident Aliens.--
Family-sponsored immigrants described in this subsection are qualified 
immigrants who are the spouse or a child of an alien lawfully admitted 
for permanent residence.''.
    (c) Conforming Amendments.--
            (1) Definition of v nonimmigrant.--Section 101(a)(15)(V) of 
        the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1101(a)(15)(V)) 
        is amended by striking ``section 203(a)(2)(A)'' each place such 
        term appears and inserting ``section 203(a)''.
            (2) Rules for determining whether certain aliens are 
        children.--Section 203(h) of such Act (8 U.S.C. 1153(h)) is 
        amended by striking ``(a)(2)(A)'' each place such term appears 
        and inserting ``(a)(2)''.
            (3) Procedure for granting immigrant status.--Section 204 
        of such Act (8 U.S.C. 1154) is amended--
                    (A) in subsection (a)(1)--
                            (i) in subparagraph (A)(i), by striking 
                        ``to classification by reason of a relationship 
                        described in paragraph (1), (3), or (4) of 
                        section 203(a) or'';
                            (ii) in subparagraph (B)--
                                    (I) in clause (i), by redesignating 
                                the second subclause (I) as subclause 
                                (II); and
                                    (II) by striking ``203(a)(2)(A)'' 
                                each place such terms appear and 
                                inserting ``203(a)''; and
                            (iii) in subparagraph (D)(i)(I), by 
                        striking ``a petitioner'' and all that follows 
                        through ``(a)(1)(B)(iii).'' and inserting ``an 
                        individual younger than 21 years of age for 
                        purposes of adjudicating such petition and for 
                        purposes of admission as an immediate relative 
                        under section 201(b)(2)(A)(i) or a family-
                        sponsored immigrant under section 203(a), as 
                        appropriate, notwithstanding the actual age of 
                        the individual.'';
                    (B) in subsection (f)(1), by striking ``, 
                203(a)(1), or 203(a)(3), as appropriate''; and
                    (C) by striking subsection (k).
            (4) Waivers of inadmissibility.--Section 212 of such Act (8 
        U.S.C. 1182) is amended--
                    (A) in subsection (a)(6)(E)(ii), by striking 
                ``section 203(a)(2)'' and inserting ``section 203(a)''; 
                and
                    (B) in subsection (d)(11), by striking ``(other 
                than paragraph (4) thereof)''.
            (5) Employment of v nonimmigrants.--Section 214(q)(1)(B)(i) 
        of such Act (8 U.S.C. 1184(q)(1)(B)(i)) is amended by striking 
        ``section 203(a)(2)(A)'' each place such term appears and 
        inserting ``section 203(a)''.
            (6) Definition of alien spouse.--Section 216(h)(1)(C) of 
        such Act (8 U.S.C. 1186a(h)(1)(C)) is amended by striking 
        ``section 203(a)(2)'' and inserting ``section 203(a)''.
            (7) Classes of deportable aliens.--Section 237(a)(1)(E)(ii) 
        of such Act (8 U.S.C. 1227(a)(1)(E)(ii)) is amended by striking 
        ``section 203(a)(2)'' and inserting ``section 203(a)''.
    (d) Effective Date; Applicability.--
            (1) Effective date.--The amendments made by this section 
        shall take effect on the first day of the first fiscal year 
        that begins after the date of the enactment of this Act.
            (2) Invalidity of certain petitions and applications.--
        Excepted as provided in paragraph (3), any petition under 
        section 204 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 
        1154) seeking classification of an alien under a family-
        sponsored immigrant category that was eliminated by the 
        amendments made by this section and filed after the date on 
        which this Act was introduced and any application for an 
        immigrant visa based on such a petition shall be considered 
        invalid.
            (3) Valid offer of admission.--Notwithstanding the 
        termination by this Act of the family-sponsored and employment-
        based immigrant visa categories, any alien who was granted 
        admission to the United States under subsection (a) or (b) of 
        section 203 of the Immigration and Nationality Act, as in 
        effect on the day before the date of the enactment of this Act, 
        and is scheduled to receive an immigrant visa in the applicable 
        preference category not later than 1 year after the date of the 
        enactment of this Act, shall be entitled to such visa if the 
        alien enters the United States within 1 year after such date of 
        enactment.

SEC. 4. DETERMINATION OF INDUSTRIAL NEED FOR IMMIGRANT LABOR.

    Title II of the Immigration and Nationality Act is amended by 
inserting after section 203 the following:

``SEC. 203A. DETERMINATION OF INDUSTRIAL NEED FOR LABOR.

    ``(a) Establishment of Board.--There is established within the 
Office of the Under Secretary for Economic Affairs at the Department of 
Commerce the Skilled Migration and Recruitment of Talent Board 
(referred to in this section as the `SMART Board' or the `Board') to 
determine levels for certain categories of immigrants with the purpose 
of improving real wage growth, economic growth, innovation, and the 
long-term fiscal outlook of the United States, without undermining the 
labor market for Americans.
            ``(1) Appointment.--The Board shall have five voting 
        members appointed by the President, by and with the advice and 
        consent of the Senate.
            ``(2) Qualifications.--To be eligible to be appointed as a 
        member of the Board, an individual shall have the expertise 
        necessary to evaluate the economic, fiscal, and labor market 
        effects of immigrant and nonimmigrant aliens in the United 
        States and to make the determinations required under this 
        section, including expertise in public finance, economic 
        growth, labor economics, or the economics of innovation.
            ``(3) Terms.--
                    ``(A) In general.--Except as otherwise provided in 
                this section, each member of the Board shall be 
                appointed to a term of 5 years.
                    ``(B) Initial staggered terms.--Of the members 
                first appointed to the Board--
                            ``(i) the members each shall be appointed 
                        to a term expiring in the first, second, third, 
                        fourth, and fifth calendar years beginning 
                        after the date of enactment of this Act, 
                        respectively; and
                            ``(ii) each term shall expire on December 
                        31 of the applicable calendar year.
                    ``(C) Vacancies.--If a vacancy occurs, the 
                President may only appoint a new member of the Board to 
                fill the vacancy and serve the remainder of the term by 
                advice and consent of the Senate.
            ``(4) Compensation.--Each member of the Board shall be a 
        full-time employee and shall be compensated at a rate equal to 
        the annual rate of basic pay prescribed for level III of the 
        Executive Schedule under section 5314 of title 5, United States 
        Code.
            ``(5) Voting.--Each member of the Board shall have an equal 
        vote in all decisions of the Board.
            ``(6) Quorum.--4 members of the Board shall constitute a 
        quorum.
            ``(7) Decisions.--Unless otherwise specified, decisions of 
        the Board shall be made by majority vote of the members 
        constituting a quorum.
    ``(b) Aggregate and Industrial Numerical Limitations.--
            ``(1) Aggregate numerical limitations.--For the first 
        covered fiscal year and each fiscal year thereafter, there 
        shall be established in accordance with this subsection--
                    ``(A) an aggregate numerical limitation for 
                employment-based immigrants under section 201(d); and
                    ``(B) an aggregate numerical limitation for 
                nonimmigrant workers described in section 
                101(a)(15)(H)(i)(b).
            ``(2) Industrial numerical limitations.--
                    ``(A) In general.--For the second covered fiscal 
                year and each fiscal year thereafter, the Board shall 
                allocate each aggregate numerical limitation among 
                industries by determining, for each industry--
                            ``(i) an industrial numerical limitation 
                        for employment-based immigrants under section 
                        201(d); and
                            ``(ii) an industrial numerical limitation 
                        for nonimmigrant workers described in section 
                        101(a)(15)(H)(i)(b).
                    ``(B) Allocation requirement.--For each fiscal year 
                for which industrial numerical limitations are in 
                effect, the sum of the industrial numerical limitations 
                determined under clause (i) of subparagraph (A) shall 
                equal the aggregate numerical limitation described in 
                paragraph (1)(A), and the sum of the industrial 
                numerical limitations determined under clause (ii) of 
                subparagraph (A) shall equal the aggregate numerical 
                limitation described in paragraph (1)(B).
                    ``(C) First covered fiscal year.--No industrial 
                numerical limitation shall apply with respect to the 
                first covered fiscal year, and numbers subject to an 
                aggregate numerical limitation shall be available 
                during that fiscal year without regard to industry.
            ``(3) Initial determination.--
                    ``(A) In general.--Not later than 1 year after the 
                date on which a quorum of the Board is first appointed, 
                the Board shall determine, and publish in the Federal 
                Register, the aggregate numerical limitations described 
                in paragraph (1) for the first covered fiscal year.
                    ``(B) Nonimmigrant level.--The aggregate numerical 
                limitation described in paragraph (1)(B) for the first 
                covered fiscal year shall be 85,000.
                    ``(C) Stable employment-based level.--The aggregate 
                numerical limitation described in paragraph (1)(A) for 
                the first covered fiscal year shall be the level that 
                the Board estimates is necessary to ensure that net 
                lawful migration to the United States during the first 
                covered fiscal year is equal to the sum of--
                            ``(i) the annual baseline; and
                            ``(ii) the transitional shortfall, if any.
                    ``(D) Annual baseline.--In this paragraph, the term 
                `annual baseline' means the average annual net lawful 
                migration to the United States during the three 
                complete fiscal years preceding the date of enactment 
                of this Act.
                    ``(E) Transitional shortfall.--In this paragraph, 
                the term `transitional shortfall' means the amount (if 
                any), as estimated by the Board, by which--
                            ``(i) the product obtained by multiplying 
                        the annual baseline by the number of fiscal 
                        years in the period consisting of each fiscal 
                        year that begins after the date of enactment of 
                        this Act and ends before the first day of the 
                        first covered fiscal year; exceeds
                            ``(ii) net lawful migration to the United 
                        States during the period consisting of each 
                        fiscal year that begins after the date of 
                        enactment of this Act and ends before the first 
                        day of the first covered fiscal year.
                    ``(F) Interim rule.--For any fiscal year beginning 
                before the first day of the first covered fiscal year, 
                the numerical limitations in effect under sections 
                201(d) and 214(g)(1)(A) on the day before the date of 
                enactment of this Act shall continue to apply.
                    ``(G) Baseline for subsequent determinations.--For 
                purposes of paragraph (6)(A), the aggregate numerical 
                limitation described in paragraph (1)(A) for the first 
                covered fiscal year shall be treated as being equal to 
                the level that the Board estimates is necessary to 
                ensure that net lawful migration to the United States 
                during the first covered fiscal year is equal to the 
                annual baseline, determined without regard to the 
                transitional shortfall, and the Board shall include 
                that level in the publication required under 
                subparagraph (A).
            ``(4) Annual determinations.--
                    ``(A) In general.--Not later than July 1 of the 
                calendar year in which the second covered fiscal year 
                begins, and not later than July 1 of each calendar year 
                thereafter, the Board shall determine, and publish in 
                the Federal Register, the aggregate numerical 
                limitations under paragraph (1), and the industrial 
                numerical limitations under paragraph (2), for the 
                fiscal year beginning on October 1 of that calendar 
                year.
                    ``(B) Late determinations.--A determination made 
                after July 1 shall take effect at the beginning of the 
                second succeeding fiscal year, and the numerical 
                limitations in effect for the current fiscal year shall 
                remain in effect for the intervening fiscal year.
                    ``(C) Continuation in the absence of a 
                determination.--If, for any fiscal year, the Board does 
                not make a determination required under this 
                subsection, including by reason of the absence of a 
                quorum, the aggregate and industrial numerical 
                limitations in effect for the preceding fiscal year 
                shall remain in effect and shall be treated as the 
                limitations determined for that fiscal year for 
                purposes of this subsection.
            ``(5) Industrial limitations for the second covered fiscal 
        year.--For the second covered fiscal year, the industrial 
        numerical limitation for an industry under clause (i) or (ii) 
        of paragraph (2)(A) shall equal the product of--
                    ``(A) the corresponding aggregate numerical 
                limitation determined for the second covered fiscal 
                year; and
                    ``(B) that industry's share of the total number of 
                visas issued, and grants or adjustments of status made, 
                subject to the corresponding aggregate numerical 
                limitation during the first three quarters of the first 
                covered fiscal year, determined on the basis of the 
                industry of the petitioning employer.
            ``(6) Limitations on determinations.--
                    ``(A) Aggregate limitations.--An aggregate 
                numerical limitation determined under this subsection 
                shall not exceed the corresponding aggregate numerical 
                limitation for the previous fiscal year by more than 
                ten percent and shall not be lower than the 
                corresponding aggregate numerical limitation for the 
                previous fiscal year by more than ten percent.
                    ``(B) Industrial limitations.--Beginning with 
                determinations for the third covered fiscal year, an 
                industrial numerical limitation determined under this 
                subsection shall not exceed the corresponding 
                industrial numerical limitation for the previous fiscal 
                year by more than one tenth of the corresponding 
                aggregate numerical limitation, and shall not be lower 
                than the corresponding industrial numerical limitation 
                for the previous fiscal year by more than one tenth of 
                the corresponding aggregate numerical limitation.
                    ``(C) Undersubscribed limitations.--An industrial 
                numerical limitation for an industry shall not be 
                increased compared to the previous fiscal year's 
                limitation if the number of applicants with respect to 
                that industry was less than the industrial numerical 
                limitation for that industry in the most recently 
                completed fiscal year for which an industrial numerical 
                limitation was in effect.
            ``(7) Consideration of information.--In making 
        determinations under this subsection, the Board shall consider 
        the following:
                    ``(A) Annual industry-specific and national 
                unemployment rates identified in the American Community 
                Survey conducted by the United States Census Bureau, 
                for the purpose of reducing the national unemployment 
                rate if such rates exceed a level considered healthy 
                for the Nation.
                    ``(B) Annual industry-specific and national vacancy 
                rates identified in the Job Openings and Labor Turnover 
                Survey program of the Bureau of Labor Statistics, for 
                the purpose of reducing such rates if such rates exceed 
                a level considered healthy for the Nation.
                    ``(C) Industry centrality and domestic supply of 
                commodities identified in the Interactive Access to 
                Input-Output Accounts Data tool of the Bureau of 
                Economic Analysis, for the purpose of maximizing 
                national gross domestic product.
                    ``(D) Wage growth and suppression trends identified 
                in the American Community Survey conducted by the 
                United States Census Bureau or by the Bureau of Labor 
                Statistics, for the purpose of maximizing the national 
                average wage growth.
                    ``(E) Industry contributions to total factor 
                productivity growth identified in data series published 
                by the Bureau of Labor Statistics' Office of 
                Productivity and Technology.
                    ``(F) Employment rates, wages, entrepreneurship 
                rates, and contributions to public and private sector 
                research and development identified in the National 
                Survey of College Graduates, Current Population Survey, 
                American Community Survey, the National Center for 
                Education Statistics' and decennial Census.
                    ``(G) Immigrants' contributions to research in 
                critical and emerging science and technology fields 
                identified in the National Survey of College Graduates 
                and the National Science Foundation's Science and 
                Engineering Indicators.
                    ``(H) Peer-reviewed journal publications on 
                immigration's effects on productivity, innovation, 
                industry formation, economic growth, and Federal, State 
                and local government budgets.
                    ``(I) Other relevant data sources related to the 
                effects of immigration on economic growth, labor market 
                outcomes, scientific or technological innovation, or 
                fiscal policy.
            ``(8) Definitions.--In this subsection:
                    ``(A) First covered fiscal year.--The term `first 
                covered fiscal year' means the first fiscal year 
                beginning not less than 90 days after the date on which 
                the Board publishes the initial determination under 
                paragraph (3).
                    ``(B) Second covered fiscal year; third covered 
                fiscal year.--The terms `second covered fiscal year' 
                and `third covered fiscal year' mean the first fiscal 
                year and the second fiscal year, respectively, 
                beginning after the end of the first covered fiscal 
                year.
    ``(c) Special Rules for Clergy.--
            ``(1) Numerical limitation.--The numerical limitation for 
        each fiscal year for special immigrants described in section 
        101(a)(27)(C) shall be 2,500.
            ``(2) Exclusion from calculation.--The calculation of the 
        numerical limitation for employment-based immigrants under 
        section 201(d) under subsection (b) shall not include a 
        calculation for such special immigrants, and visas allocated 
        under this subsection shall not be counted toward such 
        numerical limitation.
    ``(d) Information Gathering Regarding Labor Supply.--The Board may 
collect interest information from aliens residing outside the United 
States to determine the supply of foreign labor in the industries 
identified by the Board as having a need under subsection (b).
    ``(e) Reporting Requirements.--Annual determinations shall be 
accompanied by a report to the leadership of both Houses of Congress, 
and the House and Senate Committees on the Budget and Judiciary, each 
detailing--
            ``(1) the estimated fiscal impact of the determination 
        compared with the fiscal impact of no adjustment to industrial 
        and aggregate numerical limitations; and
            ``(2) the characteristics of the applicants and selected 
        immigrants and nonimmigrants in aggregate and for each 
        industry, including the offered wage, occupation, education, 
        age, and the number of points earned under the points system.
    ``(f) Provision of Data.--On request of the Board, and 
notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Secretary of Homeland 
Security and the Secretary of State shall provide to the Board, not 
later than 60 days after the request, such data regarding petitions, 
applications, registrations, and visa issuances under sections 201(d), 
203(b), and 101(a)(15)(H)(i)(b), including the offered wage, 
occupation, industry, educational attainment, and age of beneficiaries, 
as the Board determines necessary to carry out this section, in a form 
that does not include personally identifiable information.
    ``(g) Staff.--
            ``(1) In general.--The Board may, without regard to the 
        provisions of title 5, United States Code, governing 
        appointments in the competitive service, appoint an Executive 
        Director and such additional personnel as may be necessary to 
        enable the Board to perform its duties. The Board may fix the 
        compensation of the Executive Director and other personnel 
        without regard to chapter 51 and subchapter III of chapter 53 
        of such title, except that the rate of pay may not exceed the 
        rate payable for level V of the Executive Schedule under 
        section 5316 of such title.
            ``(2) Administrative support.--The Secretary of Commerce 
        shall provide the Board, on a reimbursable or non-reimbursable 
        basis, such administrative support services, office space, and 
        equipment as the Board may require to carry out its duties.
            ``(3) Detailees.--On request of the Board, the head of any 
        Federal department or agency may detail, on a reimbursable or 
        non-reimbursable basis, any personnel of that department or 
        agency to the Board to assist it in carrying out its duties.
    ``(h) Meetings.--
            ``(1) In general.--The Board shall meet not less frequently 
        than twice each calendar year.
            ``(2) Closed sessions.--Meetings of the Board shall not be 
        open to the public. The Board shall not be considered an 
        advisory committee for purposes of chapter 10 of title 5, 
        United States Code (also known as the `Federal Advisory 
        Committee Act'), and its meetings shall not be subject to 
        section 552b of title 5, United States Code (commonly known as 
        the `Government in the Sunshine Act').
            ``(3) Minutes.--The Board shall keep minutes of each 
        meeting, including a record of all votes taken, and shall 
        publish a summary of each meeting within 90 days, redacted as 
        necessary to protect confidential commercial or statistical 
        information.
    ``(i) Judicial Review.--A determination made by the Board under 
this section--
            ``(1) shall not be subject to subchapter II of chapter 5 of 
        title 5, United States Code, also known as the `Administrative 
        Procedure Act'; and
            ``(2) shall not be subject to review in any court, except 
        that an action may be brought under chapter 7 of such title to 
        review whether a determination exceeds the limitations 
        described in subsection (b)(6).
    ``(j) Definition.--In this section, the term `industry' means the 
two-digit level identified by the North American Industry 
Classification System that was in effect for the preceding fiscal 
year.''.

SEC. 5. CREATION OF IMMIGRATION POINTS SYSTEM.

    (a) Worldwide Level of Immigration.--Section 201 of the Immigration 
and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1151) is amended--
            (1) in subsection (a), as amended by section 2(b)(1)(B), by 
        amending paragraph (2) to read as follows:
            ``(2) employment-based immigrants described in section 
        203(b), in a number not to exceed the number specified in 
        subsection (d) during any fiscal year.''; and
            (2) by amending subsection (d) to read as follows:
    ``(d) Worldwide Level of Employment-Based Immigrants.--The 
worldwide level of employment-based immigrants under this subsection 
for a fiscal year is equal to such number as the Commissioner of the 
Bureau of Labor Statistics determines in accordance with section 
203A(a) plus the number specified in section 203A(d).''.
    (b) Numerical Limitations on Individual Foreign States.--
            (1) Repeal.--Section 202 of the Immigration and Nationality 
        Act (8 U.S.C. 1152) is repealed.
            (2) Conforming amendments.--
                    (A) Immigration and nationality act.--The 
                Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1101 et seq.) 
                is amended--
                            (i) in section 203(b)(6)--
                                    (I) subparagraph (A), by striking 
                                ``or of section 202(a)''; and
                                    (II) in subparagraph (B), by 
                                striking clauses (ii) and (iii);
                            (ii) in section 210(c)(1), by striking 
                        ``and 202'';
                            (iii) in section 245(b), by striking 
                        ``sections 202 and 203'' and inserting 
                        ``section 203''; and
                            (iv) in section 245A(d), by striking 
                        ``sections 201 and 202'' and inserting 
                        ``section 201''.
                    (B) Additional conforming amendment.--Section 13(c) 
                of the Act of September 11, 1957 (8 U.S.C. 1255b(c)) is 
                amended by striking the third and fourth sentences.
    (c) Application Process for Employment-Based Immigrants.--Section 
203 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1153) is amended--
            (1) by amending subsection (b) to read as follows:
    ``(b) Application Process for Employment-Based Immigrant Visas.--
            ``(1) In general.--Employment-based visas under section 
        201(d) shall be made available in the number determined under 
        section 203A for each industry to qualified immigrants in the 
        order of points attained by each immigrant under section 220, 
        beginning with the highest number of points.
            ``(2) Application.--An alien seeking an employment-based 
        visa under section 201(d) shall submit to the Secretary of 
        Homeland Security an application that contains the following:
                    ``(A) The number of points for which the applicant 
                is eligible under section 220, including an attestation 
                by the applicant, under penalty of disqualification, 
                that the applicant has sufficient documentation to 
                verify such points.
                    ``(B) The electronic submission of an application 
                fee in the amount of $160.
                    ``(C) An attestation from the prospective 
                employer--
                            ``(i) of the annual salary being offered to 
                        the applicant; and
                            ``(ii) that the job being offered to the 
                        applicant does not displace a United States 
                        worker and will not lead to the layoff of a 
                        United States worker in an essentially 
                        equivalent job.
                    ``(D)(i) Proof that the applicant's United States 
                employer has secured health insurance that meet all 
                applicable regulations; or
                    ``(ii) evidence that the applicant has posted a 
                bond to be used to purchase the health insurance 
                described in clause (i).
                    ``(E) Any other information required by the 
                Director of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, 
                by regulation.
            ``(3) Tie-breaking factors.--Applications with equal points 
        will be sorted based on the following tie-breaking factors:
                    ``(A) Applicants whose highest educational degree 
                is a doctorate degree (or equivalent foreign degree) 
                shall be ranked higher than applicants whose highest 
                educational degree is a professional degree (as defined 
                in section 220(a)) or equivalent foreign degree, who 
                shall be ranked higher than applicants whose highest 
                educational degree is a master's degree (or equivalent 
                foreign degree), who shall be ranked higher than 
                applicants whose highest educational degree is a 
                bachelor's degree (or equivalent foreign degree), who 
                shall be ranked higher than applicants whose highest 
                educational degree is a high school diploma (as defined 
                in section 220(a)) or equivalent foreign diploma, who 
                shall be ranked higher than applicants without a high 
                school diploma, with United States degrees ranked 
                higher than their foreign counterparts.
                    ``(B) Applicants with equal points and equal 
                educational attainment shall be ranked according to 
                their respective English language proficiency test 
                rankings (as defined in section 220(a)).
                    ``(C) Applicants with equal points, equal 
                educational attainment, and equal English language 
                proficiency test rankings shall be ranked according to 
                their age, with applicants who are nearest their 25th 
                birthdays being ranked higher.
            ``(4) Duration.--The application of an applicant who is not 
        allocated a visa under this section during a fiscal year will 
        be considered during succeeding fiscal years if the applicant's 
        job offer remains valid, except that the point total for the 
        applicant shall be adjusted based on the applicant's age and 
        any change to the applicant's English language proficiency test 
        (which the applicant shall repeat and resubmit for any 
        succeeding fiscal year during which the applicant seeks 
        admission).
            ``(5) Re-application permitted.--An applicant who is not 
        allocated a visa under this section during a fiscal year and 
        seeks to increase their point total may reapply for any 
        succeeding fiscal year based on any increase in points for 
        which the alien is eligible.
            ``(6) Visas for spouses and children.--
                    ``(A) Spouse.--The legal spouse of an applicant 
                under this subsection who is accompanying or following 
                to join the applicant in the United States shall be 
                issued an immigrant visa under section 201(d) upon the 
                approval of the spouse's petition under paragraph (2).
                    ``(B) Minor children.--Any children of an applicant 
                under this subsection who have not reached 18 years of 
                age as of the date on which a petition is filed under 
                paragraph (2) and are accompanying or following to join 
                the applicant in the United States shall be issued an 
                immigrant visa under section 201(d) upon the approval 
                of the spouse's petition under paragraph (2).
                    ``(C) Dependent adult children.--Any adult child of 
                an applicant under this subsection who is unable to 
                care for himself or herself may be admitted into the 
                United States, on a temporary basis, until he or she is 
                capable to care for himself or herself, but may not be 
                authorized to work in the United States or to receive 
                any other benefits of permanent residence.
                    ``(D) Not counted against numerical limitations.--
                Spouses and children admitted under this paragraph 
                shall not be counted toward the numerical limitation of 
                employment-based immigrants under section 201(d).
            ``(7) Fee adjustments for inflation.--The Director shall 
        adjust the amount of the fee required under paragraph (2)(B) 
        every 2 years, as appropriate, to reflect inflation.
            ``(8) Ineligibility for public benefits.--An alien who has 
        been issued an employment-based immigrant visa under section 
        201(d), and every member of the household of such alien, shall 
        not be eligible for any Federal means-tested public benefit (as 
        defined and implemented in section 403 of the Personal 
        Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 
        (8 U.S.C. 1613)).
            ``(9) Special rules for clergy.--
                    ``(A) Payment requirement.--The religious 
                organization in the United States sponsoring a special 
                immigrant described in section 101(a)(27)(C) shall 
                include in the petition a certification that the salary 
                for such position will be at a level such that the 
                alien will not qualify for any means-tested Federal 
                public benefit.
                    ``(B) No family members.--Notwithstanding section 
                101(a)(27), the spouse and children of a special 
                immigrant admitted under this subsection may not 
                accompany or follow to join the immigrant.
                    ``(C) Point calculation.--Visas specified in 
                section 203A(d) shall be made available to special 
                immigrants described in section 101(a)(27)(C) in the 
                order of points attained by each immigrant under 
                section 220, except that points accrued for salary 
                shall not be included, beginning with the highest 
                number of points.
                    ``(D) Limitation per religious denomination.--
                Beginning in the second fiscal year that begins after 
                the date of enactment of this paragraph, the number of 
                visas that may be issued for special immigrants 
                performing the work described in section 
                101(a)(27)(C)(ii) in a religious denomination may not 
                exceed the number of visas that is 5 percent greater 
                than the number of such visas issued for such religious 
                denomination during the previous fiscal year.''; and
            (2) in subsection (d)(1), as redesignated by section 
        2(b)(1)(C)(ii), by striking ``or (b)''.
    (d) Establishment of Immigration Points System.--
            (1) In general.--Chapter 2 of title II of the Immigration 
        and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1181 et seq.) is amended by 
        adding at the end the following:

``SEC. 220. IMMIGRATION POINTS SYSTEM.

    ``(a) Definitions.--In this section:
            ``(1) Applicant.--The term `applicant' means an applicant 
        for an employment-based immigrant visa under section 201(d).
            ``(2) English language proficiency test.--The term `English 
        language proficiency test' means--
                    ``(A) the International English Language Testing 
                System (IELTS), as administered by a partnership 
                between the British Council, IDP Education, and 
                Cambridge English Language Assessment;
                    ``(B) the Test of English as a Foreign Language 
                (TOEFL), as administered by the Educational Testing 
                Service; or
                    ``(C) any other test to measure English proficiency 
                that has been approved by the Commissioner of U.S. 
                Citizenship and Immigration Services for purposes of 
                subsection (e) that meets the standards of English 
                language ability measurement and anti-fraud integrity 
                set by the IELTS or the TOEFL.
            ``(3) English language proficiency test ranking.--
                    ``(A) In general.--Subject to subparagraph (B), the 
                term `English language proficiency test ranking' means 
                the decile rank of the applicant's English language 
                proficiency test score, when compared with all of the 
                other people who took the same test during the same 
                period.
                    ``(B) Adjustment.--The Commissioner of U.S. 
                Citizenship and Immigration Services, in consultation 
                with the Secretary of Education, may adjust the decile 
                rank of an applicant's English language proficiency 
                test score if the number of people taking such test is 
                too small or unusually skewed to make such decile rank 
                inconsistent with the decile rank the applicant would 
                have received if he or she had taken the IELTS or 
                TOEFL.
            ``(4) High school.--The term `high school' has the meaning 
        given such term in section 8101 of the Elementary and Secondary 
        Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7801).
            ``(5) IELTS.--The term `IELTS' means the International 
        English Language Testing System.
            ``(6) Institution of higher education.--The term 
        `institution of higher education' has the same meaning given 
        that term in section 101 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 
        (20 U.S.C. 1001).
            ``(7) Professional degree.--The term `professional degree' 
        includes the following degrees:
                    ``(A) Master's of Business Administration.
                    ``(B) Doctor of Medicine.
            ``(8) STEM.--The term `STEM' means the academic discipline 
        of science, technology, engineering, or mathematics.
            ``(9) TOEFL.--The term `TOEFL' means the Test of English as 
        a Foreign Language.
    ``(b) Age.--
            ``(1) In general.--An applicant may accrue points for age 
        under this subsection based on the age of the applicant on the 
        date on which the applicant submits an application under 
        section 203(b)(1).
            ``(2) Ages 0 through 17.--An alien who has not reached 18 
        years of age may not submit an application under section 
        203(b)(1).
            ``(3) Ages 18 through 21.--An applicant who is at least 18 
        years of age and younger than 22 years of age shall accrue 6 
        points.
            ``(4) Ages 22 through 25.--An applicant who is at least 22 
        years of age and younger than 26 years of age shall accrue 8 
        points.
            ``(5) Ages 26 through 30.--An applicant who is at least 26 
        years of age and younger than 31 years of age shall accrue 10 
        points.
            ``(6) Ages 31 through 35.--An applicant who is at least 31 
        years of age and younger than 36 years of age shall accrue 8 
        points.
            ``(7) Ages 36 through 40.--An applicant who is at least 36 
        years of age and younger than 41 years of age shall accrue 6 
        points.
            ``(8) Ages 41 through 45.--An applicant who is at least 41 
        years of age and younger than 46 years of age shall accrue 4 
        points.
            ``(9) Ages 46 through 50.--An applicant who is at least 46 
        years of age and younger than 51 years of age shall accrue 2 
        points.
            ``(10) Age 51 and older.--An applicant who is at least 51 
        years of age may submit an application under section 203(b), 
        but shall not accrue any points on account of age.
    ``(c) Education.--
            ``(1) In general.--An applicant may only accrue points for 
        educational attainment under this section based on the highest 
        degree obtained by the applicant as of the date on which the 
        applicant submits an application under section 203(b).
            ``(2) United states or foreign high school degree.--An 
        applicant whose highest degree is a diploma from a high school 
        in the United States, or the foreign equivalent of such a 
        degree, as determined by the Secretary of Education, shall 
        accrue 1 point.
            ``(3) Foreign bachelor's degree or united states bachelor's 
        degree with insufficient research and development.--An 
        applicant who--
                    ``(A) has received--
                            ``(i) the foreign equivalent of a 
                        bachelor's degree from an institution of higher 
                        education, as determined by the Secretary of 
                        Education; or
                            ``(ii) a bachelor's degree from an 
                        institution of higher education--
                                    ``(I) that did not expend at least 
                                $100,000 in federally financed research 
                                and development during each of the 
                                previous four fiscal years (as 
                                determined by the Higher Education 
                                Research and Development Survey 
                                conducted by the National Center for 
                                Science and Engineering Statistics); or
                                    ``(II) at which fewer than 60 
                                percent of students are United States 
                                citizens; and
                    ``(B) has not received a degree described in 
                paragraphs (5) through (8),
        shall accrue 2 points.
            ``(4) United states bachelor's degree with sufficient 
        research and development.--An applicant who--
                    ``(A) has received a bachelor's degree from an 
                institution of higher education--
                            ``(i) that has expended at least $100,000 
                        in federally financed research and development 
                        during each of the previous four fiscal years; 
                        and
                            ``(ii) at which at least 60 percent of 
                        students are United States citizens; and
                    ``(B) has not received a degree described in 
                paragraphs (5) through (8),
        shall accrue 3 points.
            ``(5) Foreign master's degree in stem or united states 
        degree with insufficient research and development.--An 
        applicant whose highest degree is a master's degree in STEM 
        from--
                    ``(A) a foreign college or university, approved by 
                the Secretary of Education; or
                    ``(B) an institution of higher education--
                            ``(i) that did not expend at least $100,000 
                        in federally financed research and development 
                        during each of the previous four fiscal years; 
                        or
                            ``(ii) at which fewer than 60 percent of 
                        students are United States citizens,
        shall accrue 4 points.
            ``(6) United states master's degree in stem with sufficient 
        research and development.--An applicant whose highest degree is 
        a master's degree in STEM from an institution of higher 
        education--
                    ``(A) that has expended at least $100,000 in 
                federally financed research and development during each 
                of the previous four fiscal years; and
                    ``(B) at which at least 60 percent of students are 
                United States citizens,
        shall accrue 5 points.
            ``(7) Foreign professional degree or doctorate degree in 
        stem or united states degree with insufficient research and 
        development.--An applicant whose highest degree is--
                    ``(A) a foreign professional degree or a doctorate 
                degree in STEM, approved by the Secretary of Education; 
                or
                    ``(B) a United States professional degree or a 
                doctorate degree in STEM from an institution of higher 
                education--
                            ``(i) that did not expend at least $100,000 
                        in federally financed research and development 
                        during each of the previous four fiscal years; 
                        or
                            ``(ii) at which fewer than 60 percent of 
                        students are United States citizens,
        shall accrue 6 points.
            ``(8) United states professional degree or doctorate degree 
        in stem with sufficient research and development.--An applicant 
        whose highest degree is a United States professional degree or 
        a doctorate degree in STEM from an institution of higher 
        education--
                    ``(A) that has expended at least $100,000 in 
                federally financed research and development during each 
                of the previous four fiscal years; and
                    ``(B) at which at least 60 percent of students are 
                United States citizens,
        shall accrue 7 points.
            ``(9) Approved foreign educational institutions and 
        degrees.--The Director of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration 
        Services, in cooperation with the Secretary of Education, shall 
        maintain and regularly update a list of foreign educational 
        institutions and degrees that meet accreditation standards 
        equivalent to those recognized by major United States 
        accrediting agencies and are approved for the purpose of 
        accruing points under this subsection.
    ``(d) English Language Proficiency.--
            ``(1) In general.--An applicant may accrue points for 
        English language proficiency in accordance with this subsection 
        based on the highest English language assessment test ranking 
        of the applicant as of the date on which the applicant submits 
        an application under section 203(b).
            ``(2) 1st through 5th deciles.--An applicant whose English 
        language proficiency test score is lower than the 6th decile 
        rank shall not accrue any points under this subsection.
            ``(3) 6th and 7th deciles.--An applicant whose English 
        language proficiency test score is in the 6th or 7th decile 
        ranks shall accrue 6 points.
            ``(4) 8th decile.--An applicant whose English language 
        proficiency test score is in the 8th decile rank shall accrue 
        10 points.
            ``(5) 9th decile.--An applicant whose English language 
        proficiency test score is in the 9th decile rank shall accrue 
        11 points.
            ``(6) 10th decile.--An applicant whose English language 
        proficiency test score is in the 10th decile rank shall accrue 
        12 points.
    ``(e) Extraordinary Achievement.--An applicant may accrue, for 
extraordinary achievement under this subsection 25 points if the 
applicant is a Nobel Laureate or has received comparable recognition in 
a field of scientific or social scientific study, as determined by the 
Commissioner of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.
    ``(f) Job Offer.--An applicant may accrue, for highly compensated 
employment under this subsection--
            ``(1) 10 points if the annual salary being offered by the 
        applicant's prospective employer is at least 150 percent of the 
        median household income in the State in which the applicant 
        will be employed, as determined by the Secretary of Labor, and 
        less than 175 percent of such median household income;
            ``(2) 13 points if the annual salary being offered is at 
        least 175 percent of such median household income and less than 
        200 percent of such median household income;
            ``(3) 16 points if the annual salary being offered is at 
        least 200 percent of such median household income and less than 
        225 percent of such median household income;
            ``(4) 19 points if the annual salary being offered is at 
        least 225 percent of such median household income and less than 
        250 percent of such median household income;
            ``(5) 22 points if the annual salary being offered is at 
        least 250 percent of such median household income and less than 
        275 percent of such median household income;
            ``(6) 25 points if the annual salary being offered is at 
        least 275 percent of such median household income and less than 
        300 percent of such median household income; and
            ``(7) 28 points if the annual salary being offered is at 
        least 300 percent of such median household income.
    ``(g) Valid Offer of Admission Under Family Preference Category.--
Any alien who was granted admission to the United States under section 
203(a) of the Immigration and Nationality Act, as in effect on the day 
before the date of enactment of this Act, shall be entitled to 2 points 
if--
            ``(1) the applicant was scheduled to receive an immigrant 
        visa under that preference category; and
            ``(2) the applicant did not receive an immigrant visa 
        during the 1-year period beginning on the date of the enactment 
        of this Act.
    ``(h) Dependent Children.--An applicant may accrue 2 points for 
each dependent child who will be accompanying or following to join the 
applicant in the United States.
    ``(i) Effect of Spouse on Accrual of Points.--
            ``(1) In general.--If an applicant has a spouse who will be 
        accompanying or following to join the applicant in the United 
        States, the applicant will identify the points that the spouse 
        would accrue under each of subsections (c) through (e) if he or 
        she were applying for a points-based immigrant visa.
            ``(2) Points adjustment.--For each of the categories set 
        forth in subsections (c) through (e)--
                    ``(A) if the number of points that would be accrued 
                by the spouse is the same or higher as the points 
                accrued by the applicant, the number of points shall 
                not be adjusted;
                    ``(B) if the number of points that would be accrued 
                by the spouse is lower than the number of points 
                accrued by the applicant, the number of points accrued 
                by the applicant shall be adjusted so that it is equal 
                to the sum of--
                            ``(i) the number of points accrued by the 
                        applicant under such category multiplied by 70 
                        percent; and
                            ``(ii) the number of points accrued by the 
                        spouse under such category multiplied by 30 
                        percent.''.
            (2) Clerical amendment.--The table of contents for the 
        Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1101 et seq.) is 
        amended by inserting after the item relating to section 219 the 
        following:

``Sec. 220. Immigration points system.''.

SEC. 6. REFORM AND REPLACE H-1B NONIMMIGRANTS WITH SMARTER 
              NONIMMIGRANTS.

    (a) Numerical Limitation Based on Industrial Need.--Subparagraph 
(A) of section 214(g)(1) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 
U.S.C. 1184(g)(1)) is amended to read as follows:
                    ``(A) under section 101(a)(15)(H)(i)(b), shall be 
                such number as the Commissioner of the Bureau of Labor 
                Statistics determines in accordance with section 203A; 
                or''.
    (b) Elimination of Foreign Fashion Model Visas.--Section 
101(a)(15)(H)(i)(b) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 
1101(a)(15)(H)(i)(b)) is amended--
            (1) by striking ``or as a fashion model''; and
            (2) by striking ``or, in the case of a fashion model, is of 
        distinguished merit and ability,''.
    (c) Replacement.--Section 212(n) of the Immigration and Nationality 
Act is amended--
            (1) by striking ``an H-1B nonimmigrant'' each place it 
        appears and inserting ``SMARTER nonimmigrant''; and
            (2) by striking ``H-1B nonimmigrants'' each place it 
        appears and inserting ``SMARTER nonimmigrants''.
    (d) Portability.--Section 214(n) of the Immigration and Nationality 
Act (8 U.S.C. 1184 (n)) is amended by adding at the end the following:
            ``(3) A nonimmigrant alien may accept new employment under 
        this subsection, regardless of whether the new employment is in 
        the industry in which alien was originally authorized to work 
        under section 101(a)(15)(H)(i)(b).
            ``(4) For purposes of paragraph (2)(B), a nonimmigrant 
        alien shall be considered to have been in a period of stay 
        authorized at the time of filing a petition described in 
        paragraph (1) if such petition was properly filed while a prior 
        nonfrivolous petition was pending.
            ``(5) A new petition filed under this subsection by an 
        employer (as such term is defined in section 203A) with respect 
        to an alien may not be denied solely on the basis that a 
        previous petition filed under this subsection by an employer 
        with respect to that alien was denied.
            ``(6) If a petition filed pursuant to this subsection is 
        denied, the nonimmigrant alien's period of authorized stay 
        shall continue until the sooner of--
                    ``(A) 120 days; or
                    ``(B) the end of the previously approved validity 
                period.''.
    (e) Job Flexibility for Long Delayed Applicants for Adjustment of 
Status to Permanent Residence.--Section 204(j) of the Immigration and 
Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1154(j)) is amended--
            (1) by striking ``subsection (a)(1)(D)'' and inserting 
        ``subsection (a)(1)(F)''; and
            (2) by inserting after ``unadjudicated for 180 days or 
        more'' the following: ``, or with respect to whom the petition 
        has been approved for more than 365 days without a visa number 
        being immediately available to allow the filing of an 
        application under section 245,''.
    (f) Awarding of Visas.--Section 214(g) of the Immigration and 
Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1184(g)(3)) is amended by inserting after the 
first sentence the following: ``In the case of petitions received on 
the final receipt date or in the case of petitions registered during 
the initial registration period, such petitions shall be considered 
simultaneously filed and visas or status shall be provided in the order 
that will most increase long-term tax revenue, including any adjustment 
deemed appropriate to account for applicable geographic differences.''.
    (g) Extension of Existing H-1B Nonimmigrant Visa.--An individual 
who is present in the United States on the date of enactment of this 
Act under section 101(a)(H)(i)(b) of the Immigration and Nationality 
Act (8 U.S.C. 1101(a)(H)(i)(b)) shall not be required to depart the 
United States prior to renewing such visa pursuant to the amendments 
made by this Act.

SEC. 7. COMPUTATION OF PREVAILING WAGE.

    Section 212(p) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 
1182(p)) is amended--
            (1) in paragraph (3), by adding at the end the following: 
        ``In computing the prevailing wage level for an occupational 
        classification in an area of employment for purposes of 
        subsections (a)(5)(A), (n)(1)(A)(i)(II), and (t)(1)(A)(i)(II), 
        such prevailing wage shall be commensurate with experience, 
        education, and the level of supervision and shall be the median 
        compensation received by United States workers with the same 
        education and experience as the alien being hired and seeking 
        admission to work in the same occupation and area of 
        employment.''; and
            (2) by striking paragraph (4).

SEC. 8. PREREQUISITE FOR NATURALIZATION.

    Section 318 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1429 
et seq.) is amended--
            (1) by striking ``Except'' and inserting the following:
    ``(a) Permanent Resident.--Except'';
            (2) by striking ``he'' each place such term appears and 
        inserting ``he or she'';
            (3) by striking ``his'' and inserting ``his or her'';
            (4) by striking ``Attorney General'' each place such term 
        appears and inserting ``Secretary of Homeland Security'';
            (5) by striking ``the Service'' and inserting ``the 
        Department of Homeland Security'';
            (6) by striking ``Notwithstanding'' and inserting the 
        following:
    ``(b) Warrant of Arrest.--Notwithstanding'';
            (7) by striking ``Act: Provided, That the findings'' and 
        inserting ``Act. The findings''; and
            (8) by adding at the end the following:
    ``(c) Outstanding Debts.--No person may be naturalized under this 
title if the individual who executed an affidavit of support with 
respect to the person has failed to reimburse the Federal Government, 
in accordance with section 213A(b), for all means-tested public 
benefits received by the person.''.

SEC. 9. USE OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE TO IDENTIFY VISA OVERSTAYS.

    The Secretary of Homeland Security shall develop and implement a 
process to use artificial intelligence to analyze the records of the 
Department of Homeland Security related to immigration, alien travel 
records, and other relevant data, to identify aliens who were admitted 
to the United States on the basis of a nonimmigrant visa whose periods 
of authorized stays ended but who remained unlawfully in the United 
States beyond such periods.

SEC. 10. GOLD-CARD IMMIGRANT VISA PROGRAM.

    (a) In General.--For each of fiscal years 2026 through 2035, 25,000 
immigrant visas shall be made available for immigrants seeking to enter 
the United States--
            (1) who pay a fee to the Secretary of Commerce in an amount 
        of $1,000,000 plus a processing fee of $15,000; or
            (2) on whose behalf a corporation pays a fee to the 
        Secretary of Commerce in an amount of $2,000,000 plus a 
        processing fee of $15,000.
    (b) Background Checks.--The Secretary of Homeland Security shall 
conduct background checks on each applicant under this section to 
ensure that each such applicant is otherwise admissible under the 
immigration laws.
    (c) Employment Authorization.--The Secretary of Homeland Security 
shall provide aliens admitted to the United States under this section 
with employment authorization.
    (d) Numerical Limitations.--Visas described in this section are not 
subject to the worldwide levels or numerical limitations under the 
immigration laws.
    (e) Fee Adjustments for Inflation.--The Secretary of Commerce shall 
adjust the amount of the fee required under subsection (a) every 2 
years, as appropriate, to reflect inflation.
    (f) Definitions.--In this section, the terms have the meanings 
given such terms in the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1101 
et seq.).

SEC. 11. REPORTS.

    (a) Annual Report.--Not later than 1 year after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter, the Secretary of 
Homeland Security shall submit a report to Congress that includes, for 
the previous fiscal year--
            (1) the number of visas issued under section 203(b) of the 
        Immigration and Nationality Act;
            (2) with respect to alien recipients of such visas--
                    (A) the percentage of such aliens seeking residence 
                in each State;
                    (B) the percentage of such aliens in each of the 
                educational attainment categories set forth in section 
                220(c) of such Act;
                    (C) the percentage of such aliens in each of the 
                English language proficiency categories set forth in 
                section 220(d) of such Act; and
                    (D) the initial United States employers of such 
                aliens and the average starting annual salary offered 
                by such employers in the United States; and
            (3) the number of aliens admitted under the gold card visa 
        program under section 9, and the countries of nationality of 
        such aliens.
    (b) Quadrennial Report.--
            (1) In general.--Not later than 4 years after the date of 
        the enactment of this Act, and every 4 years thereafter, the 
        Secretary of Homeland Security, in consultation with the 
        Secretary of Labor, the Secretary of Commerce, and the 
        Secretary of State, shall submit a report to the Committee on 
        the Judiciary of the Senate, the Committee on Foreign Relations 
        of the Senate, the Committee on the Judiciary of the House of 
        Representatives, and the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the 
        House of Representatives that includes any recommendations for 
        revisions to the immigration points system set forth in section 
        220 of the Immigration and Nationality Act--
                    (A) by reallocating points within or among the 
                categories set forth in such section; and
                    (B) by adding or subtracting additional points 
                categories.
            (2) Criteria for recommendations.--The recommendations 
        included in the report required under paragraph (1) shall be 
        designed to achieve the goals of--
                    (A) increasing per capita growth in the gross 
                domestic product of the United States;
                    (B) enhancing prospects for the economic success of 
                immigrants issued employment-based immigrant visas;
                    (C) improving the fiscal health of the United 
                States; and
                    (D) protecting or increasing the wages of working 
                Americans.
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