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H.R.170 / 115th Congress

Protect and Grow American Jobs Act

Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by Voice Vote.

Official summary

Version 00 · Introduced in House · Jan 3, 2017

Protect and Grow American Jobs Act

This bill amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to revise the definition of "exempt H-1B nonimmigrant" to eliminate the masters or higher degree requirement and raise the annual salary threshold requirement from $60,000 to $100,000.

(An exempt H-1B nonimmigrant is a nonimmigrant H-1B [specialty occupation] worker meeting certain criteria whom an H-1B dependent employer may hire without having to satisfy certain otherwise applicable H-1B hiring criteria. An H-1B dependent employer is generally one whose H-1B workers comprise 15% or more of the employer's total workforce, with different thresholds applying to smaller employers.)

The bill requires an inflation adjustment to the salary threshold every third fiscal year.

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Who introduced it

Rep. Issa, Darrell E. [R-CA-49] · R–CA

Committees

  • Judiciary Committee
9 cosponsorship records, including any withdrawals

Actions

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  1. Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by Voice Vote.

  2. Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.

  3. Referred to the Subcommittee on Immigration and Border Security.

  4. Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.

  5. Introduced in House

  6. Introduced in House

Bill text & related measures

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Related bills identified by Congress.gov

Source last updated: Aug 11, 2025. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.

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Objective

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Progressive lens

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Institutions and government scope

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Individual rights and government power

Liberty lens

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