Immigration and Citizenship

Washington, D.C. – The House Judiciary Committee today approved the Supplying Knowledge Based Immigrants and Lifting Levels of STEM Visas Act (H.R. 2131), also known as the SKILLS Visa Act,in a vote of 20-14.  This bill provides American employers with access to the world’s best talent by allocating green cards to foreign graduates of U.S.

Washington, D.C. – The House Judiciary Committee today approved the Legal Workforce Act (H.R. 1772) in a vote of 22-9.  This bipartisan bill discourages illegal immigration by ensuring jobs are only made available to those authorized to work in the U.S. Specifically, the bill requires employers to check the work eligibility of all future hires though the E-Verify system.  The Legal Workforce Act is one of several bills the House Judiciary Committee has introduced and approved to help address various issues within our immigration system. 

Chairman Goodlatte:  As we seek to reform our immigration system as a whole, we must take the time to look at each of the individual issues within this system to ensure that we get immigration reform right. Today the Committee will consider the second in a series of bills that represent the judicious and thorough, step-by-step approach to immigration reform that this Committee has undertaken.

Washington, D.C. – The House Judiciary Committee today approved the Agricultural Guestworker “AG” Act (H.R. 1773) in a vote of 20-16.  This bill creates a new temporary agricultural guestworker program to provide American farmers with access to a reliable workforce.  The AG Act is one of several bills the House Judiciary Committee has introduced to address problems within our immigration system.  House Judiciary Committee Chairman Bob Goodlatte (R-Va.), chief sponsor of the AG Act, praised today’s Committee vote.

Washington, D.C. – The House Judiciary Committee tonight approved legislation in a vote of 20-15 to provide a robust interior enforcement strategy and strengthen the security of our country and communities.  The Strengthen and Fortify Enforcement Act (H.R. 2278), also known as the SAFE Act, is one of several bills the House Judiciary Committee has proposed to address various issues within our immigration system and is a critical component of immigration reform. 

Chairman Goodlatte:  Today the House Judiciary Committee will mark up its first immigration bill. Over the past six months, the Committee has convened numerous hearings on immigration and introduced several pieces of legislation that address many of the issues plaguing our immigration system. We have, and will continue, to take a step by step approach to immigration reform, thoroughly examining each piece in detail.