Rep. Crane Introduces Legislation to Pause and Reform the Broken H-1B Visa Process

Today, Rep. Eli Crane (R-AZ) introduced the End H-1B Visa Abuse Act of 2026, which would pause the issuance of H-1B visas for three years and implement significant reforms when the program resumes.

Reps. Brian Babin (R-TX), Brandon Gill (R-TX), Paul Gosar (R-AZ), Wesley Hunt (R-TX), Tom McClintock (R-CA), Keith Self (R-TX), and Andy Ogles (R-TN) have signed on as original cosponsors.

Following growing concern about companies turning to foreign labor instead of American workers, Rep. Crane drafted legislation to reset and reform the H-1B system. In addition to the three-year pause, the bill includes reforms such as:

• Reducing the annual H-1B cap from 65,000 to 25,000 and eliminating existing exemptions
• Replacing the lottery system with a wage-based selection system
• Requiring employers to certify they cannot find a qualified American worker and have not conducted layoffs
• Setting a minimum H-1B wage of $200,000 per year
• Barring H-1B workers from holding multiple jobs and prohibiting third-party staffing agencies from employing them
• Disallowing H-1B workers from bringing dependents to the United States
• Prohibiting federal agencies from sponsoring or employing nonimmigrant workers
• Ending Optional Practical Training (OPT)
• Ensuring nonimmigrant visas remain temporary by prohibiting H-1B holders from adjusting status to permanent residency
• Requiring nonimmigrants to depart the United States before changing to another nonimmigrant status

"The federal government should work for hardworking citizens, not the profit margins of massive corporations. We owe it to the American people to prevent the broken H-1B system from boxing them out of jobs they are qualified to perform. The End H-1B Visa Abuse Act of 2026 would provide greater access to employment, strengthen protocols in the visa process, and prioritize the livelihoods of Americans. I'm honored to introduce this legislation, and I'm grateful for those who raised awareness about this flawed process," said Rep. Crane.

"The H-1B program has been hijacked to replace American workers with cheaper foreign labor-plain and simple. This bill slams the brakes on a system that's rigged against our own people and puts American jobs first again. If a company can hire an American, they should. No loopholes. No excuses. We're done subsidizing the outsourcing of our own workforce," said Rep. Paul Gosar.

"American workers are being replaced, and cheap foreign labor is the cause. We will not bow down to the corporations, and we will not let Americans become strangers in their own country. End the H-1B scam," said Rep. Andy Ogles.

"This is the strongest H-1B bill that has ever been introduced in Congress. H-1B visas were sold to the American people as a short-term visa to fill temporary labor gaps while Americans are trained to take those jobs. This bill makes that a reality by reducing the caps and significantly raising the costs, ending OPT, prohibiting adjustment of status, and banning third-party employment, all after a three year pause on the issuance of any H-1B visas. The Immigration Accountability Project is grateful to Congressman Crane for putting the interests of American workers first with this bill," said Rosemary Jenks, Cofounder, Immigration Accountability Project.