To amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to codify the Optional Practical Training program.

Valerie P. Foushee

Democrat · NC · Representative

Source: Congress.gov · FEC

No cosponsors on record. Bills can pass without cosponsors — this often means the sponsor introduced the bill alone, either because it's a messaging bill, a chairman's mark, or simply early in the legislative cycle.

Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.

2026-05-07

Source: Congress.gov

The proposal would officially write into law the Optional Practical Training program, which allows foreign students who graduate from U.S. colleges and universities to work in the country for a limited time in their field of study. Currently, this program operates under temporary government rules rather than permanent legislation, so codifying it would give it more stable legal status and potentially make it harder to change without new laws. The change would mainly affect international students and the employers who hire them, as well as universities that host these students.

AI-assisted summary generated from the official bill metadata (title, subjects, actions) sourced from Congress.gov. Cached and reviewed. Always verify against the official text linked below.

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress] [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office] [H.R. 8683 Introduced in House (IH)] <DOC> 119th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 8683 To amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to codify the Optional Practical Training program. _______________________________________________________________________ IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES May 7, 2026 Mrs. Foushee introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary _______________________________________________________________________ A BILL To amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to codify the Optional Practical Training program. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, SECTION 1. CODIFY OPTIONAL PRACTICAL TRAINING PROGRAM. (a) Course of Study.--Section 101(a)(15)(F)(i) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1101(a)(15)(F)(i)) is amended by inserting after ``course of study'' the second times it appears ``, including practical training and employment authorization described under section 214(m)(3),''. (b) Practical Training and Employment Authorization.--Section 214(m) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1184(m)) is amended by adding at the end the following: ``(3)(A) With respect to an alien who obtains the status of a nonimmigrant under section 101(a)(15)(F)(i), a full course of study may include practical training and employment authorization for a period of up to 24 months if such employment is related to the field of study undertaken by the nonimmigrant. ``(B) With respect to an alien who obtains the status of a nonimmigrant under section 101(a)(15)(F)(i) and is pursuing or has completed a full course of study in a science, technology, engineering, or mathematics field, a full course of study may include practical training and employment authorization for a period of up to 48 months if such employment is related to the field of study undertaken by the nonimmigrant. ``(C) The Secretary of Homeland Security may establish terms and conditions necessary for the practical training and employment authorization period.''. (c) Nursing.--The Secretary of Homeland Security shall take such actions as may be necessary to make nursing a science, technology, engineering, or mathematics field for the purpose of section 214(m)(3)(B) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1184(m)(3)(B)). <all>

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