Reps. Houlahan and Vasquez Introduce Careworker Visa Act to Address Childcare and Eldercare Worker Shortage, Bring Down Costs

This press release from Representative Chrissy Houlahan (D-PA) was published on 2026-06-09 and titled "Reps. Houlahan and Vasquez Introduce Careworker Visa Act to Address Childcare and Eldercare Worker Shortage, Bring Down ".

Reps. Houlahan and Vasquez Introduce Careworker Visa Act to Address Childcare and Eldercare Worker Shortage, Bring Down Costs

WASHINGTON, D.C. – On June 9, 2026, U.S. Representatives Chrissy Houlahan (PA-06) and Gabe Vasquez (NM-02) introduced the Careworker Visa Act to address the nation's growing shortage of childcare providers, eldercare workers, and in-home caregivers and bring down care costs by creating a new legal visa pathway for qualified careworkers. This legislation recognizes a simple reality: America needs more caregivers to bring down rising costs, and our immigration system should reflect that. As the American population ages , there will be a projected 4.6 million unfilled caregiving jobs by 2032. Nationwide, the cost of childcare has spiked by about 8% since 2024, while the cost of in-home eldercare has risen three times faster than inflation, with prices jumping about 10% in 2025. The Administration’s immigration crackdown is only making matters worse . New Mexico has an especially pronounced need for additional careworkers: In 2025, New Mexico became the first state in the country to offer universal childcare, but as of May 2026, the state still faced significant caregiver labor shortages , leaving 15,000 New Mexican children unable to receive the free childcare their families were promised. New Mexico’s population is rapidly aging . By 2031, New Mexico is projected to be the state with the fourth-highest percentage of residents over 65 years old. The Careworker Visa Act creates a new W visa category for qualified careworkers, including childcare providers, eldercare workers, and in-home caregivers for individuals with disabilities. In addition to allowing those from other countries to apply for a W visa, this bill also allows individuals to apply for a work visa if they have been in the U.S. since 2024, pass a background check, and pay a $500 fee and all taxes — providing those who seek to work in this critical industry a path out of the shadows. The program is capped at 100,000 visas annually and requires participating employers to pay prevailing wages and comply with federal labor protections to ensure that U.S. wages are not impacted. Successful applicants may renew their visas after three years or pursue lawful permanent residency after meeting program requirements. “Finding the right person to care for your kids or aging parents is a deeply personal task, and for millions of Americans, the careworker keeping their family afloat is an immigrant. These families deserve stability in their care, which is why careworkers need secure pathways to legal citizenship,” said Rep. Houlahan. “The Careworker Visa Act creates that pathway, making sure our kids, elders, and people with disabilities can keep getting the support they need from dedicated, hardworking caregivers.” “American families are paying more than ever for childcare and eldercare, employers can't find enough qualified caregivers, and the President’s mass deportation campaign is only making matters worse,” said Rep. Vasquez . “This bill will help fill the critical workforce shortages that are holding back our economy, bring down care costs for American families, and empower careworkers who are eager to follow the rules and work here legally. Immigrant careworkers make up a huge share of the caregiving industry and play an indispensable role in caring for our loved ones.” The Careworker Visa Act is endorsed by FWD.us, the National Domestic Workers Alliance, Caregiver Action Network, Family Caregiver Alliance, and PHI. “We commend Congressman Vazquez for his leadership in innovative, critical ways to build a modern, humane, and orderly immigration system that fits the needs of American families and our economy,” said Todd Schulte, President of FWD.us. “For many Americans, the increasing challenges of finding caregivers have been made even worse by the current efforts to restrict legal immigration avenues and other attacks on immigrants. That is why we're so appreciative of this effort to build a caregiver visa in such a thoughtful, common sense manner.” “All of us will need care at some point in our lives, and immigrants make up one-third of America’s care workforce. But right now, as our population ages and the need for care continues to grow, the domestic and care workers who do so much for our kids, parents, and loved ones with disabilities are living in fear in the communities they call home,” said Ai-jen Poo, President of the National Domestic Workers Alliance. “The Careworker Visa Act reflects the simple reality that in our country, the future of care and the future of immigration are intertwined. This legislation is an important step toward ensuring families have access to qualified, affordable care workers as we build toward more robust care policies, including a pathway to citizenship for immigrant care workers.” “If we don’t act, the consequences are clear: more stress on family caregivers — including caregiving youth — and more working adults forced to cut hours or leave their jobs altogether. We already don’t have enough care workers to meet to