Bridging the Gap for New Americans Act

Floor Speech

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the Bridging the Gap for New Americans Act. I applaud our colleagues in the Senate for approving this bill this summer by unanimous consent. I also acknowledge our colleague, Mr. John Katko, for his work on a companion bill in the House.

S. 3157 directs the Secretary of Labor to conduct a study on barriers to employment for legal immigrants and refugees who earn their professional credentials somewhere other than the United States. The study will also include policy recommendations for better helping these immigrants and refugees obtain skill-appropriate employment in the United States.

Obstacles for foreign-educated immigrants and refugees who are legally in the United States but are unemployed or underemployed include language barriers, credential recognition difficulties, regulatory hurdles, and a lack of professional networks to offer assistance.

This underutilization of skills, or brain waste, is costing the United States billions of dollars per year in lost individual earnings, economic output, and tax revenue.

The healthcare sector is especially impacted by this challenge. Two million immigrants with college degrees in the United States have been relegated to low-wage jobs or unable to find work, often because of licensing, credential recognition, and other barriers. This leaves immigrants and refugees unable to contribute fully to the economy, reach their full potential, or secure the American Dream.

In addition to providing recommendations for addressing these challenges for individual immigrants and their families, S. 3157 will benefit all Americans and our economy. With too many jobs still going unfilled and a rapidly evolving labor market, it is vital we address this issue now.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support S. 3157, and I reserve the balance of my time.

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Mr. SEMPOLINSKI.

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