H.R. 7682

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 7682 Introduced in House (IH)]

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119th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 7682

To amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to base the numerical 
limitations for H-2B nonimmigrants on economic need, and for other 
purposes.

_______________________________________________________________________

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

February 25, 2026

Mr. Bergman (for himself, Ms. Scholten, and Mr. Moolenaar) introduced 
the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on the 
Judiciary, and in addition to the Committee on Education and Workforce, 
for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case 
for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of 
the committee concerned

_______________________________________________________________________

A BILL

To amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to base the numerical 
limitations for H-2B nonimmigrants on economic need, and for other 
purposes.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the ``Closing the Workforce Gap Act of 
2026''.

SEC. 2. NUMERICAL LIMITATIONS FOR H-2B NONIMMIGRANTS BASED ON ECONOMIC 
NEED.

(a) In General.--Section 214(g) of the Immigration and Nationality 
Act (8 U.S.C. 1184(g)) is amended--
(1) by amending paragraph (1)(B) to read as follows:
``(B) except as provided in subsection (s), under 
section 101(a)(15)(H)(ii)(b) may not exceed the number 
of Department of Labor certified positions for the 
previous fiscal year with respect to nonimmigrants 
described in section 101(a)(15)(H)(ii)(b).''; and
(2) in paragraph (10), by striking ``33,000'' and inserting 
``half of the number described in paragraph (1)(B)''.
(b) Exemption From Numerical Limitation for Rural and Seasonal 
Location Workers.--Section 214 of the Immigration and Nationality Act 
(8 U.S.C. 1184) is amended by adding at the end the following:
``(s) Exemption From Numerical Limitation for H-2B Rural and 
Seasonal Location Workers.--
``(1) Exemption from numerical limitation.--The numerical 
limitation under subsection (g)(1)(B) shall not apply to 
nonimmigrants described in section 101(a)(15)(H)(ii)(b) who 
work for an employer in a rural and seasonal location.
``(2) Documentation for exemption.--Any employer seeking an 
exemption under paragraph (1) shall submit the relevant 
documentation to the Secretary of Labor during the labor 
certification approval process.
``(3) Verification.--In any labor certification that the 
Secretary of Labor issues to such employer, the Secretary shall 
verify to the Department of Homeland Security the number of 
cap-exempt positions to which the employer is entitled.
``(4) Definition.--In this subsection, the term `rural and 
seasonal location' means an area that--
``(A) is not within a metropolitan statistical 
area, as designated by the Office of Management and 
Budget, or within the outer boundary of any city or 
town having a population of 20,000 or more people 
according to the most recent decennial census of the 
United States; and
``(B) has a population on January 1 or July 1 that 
is at least 50 percent higher than the number of 
residents who continuously live in the area.''.
(c) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section shall take 
effect on the first day of the first fiscal year that begins after the 
date of enactment of this Act.

SEC. 3. INCREASED SANCTIONS FOR WILLFUL MISREPRESENTATION OR FAILURE TO 
MEET THE REQUIREMENTS FOR PETITIONING FOR AN H-2B WORKER.

Section 214 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1184) 
is amended--
(1) in subsection (c)(13)(B), by striking ``$150'' and 
inserting ``$350''; and
(2) in subsection (c)(14)(A)(i), by striking ``may, in 
addition to any other remedy authorized by law, impose such 
administrative remedies (including civil monetary penalties in 
an amount not to exceed $10,000 per violation)'' and inserting 
``shall impose civil monetary penalties in an amount of not 
less than $1,000 but not to exceed $10,000 per violation, in 
addition to any other remedy authorized by law, and may impose 
such other administrative remedies''.

SEC. 4. WORKPLACE SAFETY.

(a) Worksite Safety and Compliance Plan.--If an employer is seeking 
to employ an H-2B worker pursuant to this Act and the Immigration and 
Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1101 et seq.), the employer shall maintain an 
effective worksite safety and compliance plan to ensure safety and 
reduce workplace illnesses, injuries, and fatalities. Such plan shall--
(1) be in writing in English and, to the extent necessary, 
any language common to a significant portion of the workers if 
they are not fluent in English; and
(2) be posted at a conspicuous location at the worksite and 
provided to employees prior to the commencement of labor or 
services.
(b) Contents of Plan.--The Secretary of Labor shall establish by 
regulation the minimum requirements for the plan described in 
subsection (a). Such plan shall include measures to--
(1) protect against sexual harassment and violence, resolve 
complaints involving harassment or violence, and protect 
against retaliation against workers reporting harassment or 
violence; and
(2) contain other provisions necessary for ensuring 
workplace safety.

SEC. 5. FOREIGN LABOR RECRUITING; PROHIBITION ON FEES.

(a) Foreign Labor Recruiting.--If an employer has engaged any 
foreign labor contractor or recruiter (or any agent of such a foreign 
labor contractor or recruiter) in the recruitment of H-2B workers, the 
employer shall disclose the identity and geographic location of such 
person or entity to the Secretary of Labor in accordance with the 
regulations of the Secretary.
(b) Prohibition Against Employees Paying Fees.--Neither the 
employer nor its agents shall seek or receive payment of any kind from 
any worker for any activity related to the H-2B petition process, 
including payment of the employer's attorneys' fees, application fees, 
or recruitment costs. An employer and its agents may receive 
reimbursement for costs that are the responsibility, and primarily for 
the benefit, of the worker, such as government-required passport fees.
(c) Third-Party Contracts.--The employer shall contractually forbid 
any foreign labor contractor or recruiter (or any agent of a foreign 
labor contractor or recruiter) who the employer engages, either 
directly or indirectly, in the recruitment of H-2B workers to seek or 
receive payments or other compensation from prospective employees. Upon 
learning that a foreign labor contractor or recruiter has collected 
such payments, the employer shall terminate any contracts with the 
foreign labor contractor or recruiter.

SEC. 6. PROGRAM INTEGRITY MEASURES.

(a) Enforcement Authority.--With respect to the H-2B program, the 
Secretary of Labor is authorized to take such actions against 
employers, including imposing appropriate penalties and seeking 
monetary and injunctive relief and specific performance of contractual 
obligations, as may be necessary to ensure compliance with--
(1) the requirements of this Act and the Immigration and 
Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1101 et seq.); and
(2) the applicable terms and conditions of employment.
(b) Complaint Process.--
(1) Process.--With respect to the H-2B program, the 
Secretary of Labor shall establish a process for the receipt, 
investigation, and disposition of complaints alleging failure 
of an employer to comply with--
(A) the requirements of this Act and the 
Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1101 et 
seq.); and
(B) the applicable terms and conditions of 
employment.
(2) Filing.--Any aggrieved person or organization, 
including a bargaining representative, may file a complaint 
referred to in paragraph (1) not later than 2 years after the 
date of the conduct that is the subject of the complaint.
(3) Complaint not exclusive.--A complaint filed under this 
subsection is not an exclusive remedy and the filing of such a 
complaint does not waive any rights or remedies of the 
aggrieved party under this law or other laws.
(4) Decision and remedies.--If the Secretary of Labor 
finds, after notice and opportunity for a hearing, that the 
employer failed to comply with the requirements of this Act, 
the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1101 et seq.), or 
the terms and conditions of employment, the Secretary of Labor 
shall require payment of unpaid wages, unpaid benefits, 
damages, and civil money penalties. The Secretary is also 
authorized to impose other administrative remedies, including 
disqualification of the employer from utilizing the H-2B 
program for a period of up to 5 years in the event of willful 
or multiple material violations. The Secretary is authorized to 
permanently disqualify an employer from utilizing the H-2B 
program upon a subsequent finding involving willful or multiple 
material violations.
(5) Disposition of penalties.--To the extent provided in 
advance in appropriations Acts, civil penalties collected under 
this subsection shall be used by the Secretary of Labor for the 
administration and enforcement of the provisions of this 
section.
(6) Statutory construction.--Nothing in this subsection may 
be construed as limiting the authority of the Secretary of 
Labor to conduct an investigation in the absence of a 
complaint.
(7) Retaliation prohibited.--It is a violation of this 
subsection for any person to intimidate, threaten, restrain, 
coerce, blacklist, discharge, or in any other manner 
discriminate against, or to cause any person to intimidate, 
threaten, restrain, coerce, blacklist, or in any manner 
discriminate against, an employee, including a former employee 
or an applicant for employment, because the employee--
(A) has disclosed information to the employer, or 
to any other person, that the employee reasonably 
believes evidences a violation of the immigration laws 
relating to the H-2B program, or any rule or regulation 
relating to such program;
(B) has filed a complaint concerning the employer's 
compliance with the immigration laws relating to the H-
2B program, or any rule or regulation relating to such 
program;
(C) cooperates or seeks to cooperate in an 
investigation or other proceeding concerning the 
employer's compliance with the immigration laws 
relating to the H-2B program, or any rule or regulation 
relating to such program; or
(D) has taken steps to exercise or assert any right 
or protection under the provisions of this section, or 
any rule or regulation pertaining to this section, or 
any other relevant Federal, State, or local law.
(c) Interagency Communication.--The Secretary of Labor, in 
consultation with the Secretary of Homeland Security, Secretary of 
State, and the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, shall establish 
mechanisms by which the agencies and their components share 
information, including by public electronic means, regarding 
complaints, studies, investigations, findings, and remedies regarding 
compliance by employers with the requirements of the H-2B program and 
other employment-related laws and regulations.

SEC. 7. PROGRAM ELIGIBILITY.

(a) In General.--A petition filed by an employer under subsection 
(c)(1) initially to grant an alien nonimmigrant status under section 
101(a)(15)(H)(ii)(b) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 
1101(a)(15)(H)(ii)(b)), or to extend or change to such status, may be 
approved only for nationals of countries that the Secretary of Homeland 
Security has designated as participating countries, with the 
concurrence of the Secretary of State, in a notice published in the 
Federal Register, taking into account for each such country factors, 
including--
(1) the fraud rate relating to petitions under section 
101(a)(15)(H)(ii) of such Act (8 U.S.C. 1101(a)(15)(H)(ii)) 
filed for by nationals of the country and visa applications 
under such section filed by nationals of the country;
(2) the denial rate of visa applications under such section 
101(a)(15)(H)(ii) filed by nationals of the country;
(3) the overstay rate of nationals of the country who were 
admitted to the United States under such section 
101(a)(15)(H)(ii);
(4) the number of nationals of the country who were 
admitted to the United States under such section 
101(a)(15)(H)(ii) and who were reported by their employers to--
(A) have failed to report to work within 5 workdays 
of the employment start date on the petition or within 
5 workdays of the date on which the worker is admitted 
into the United States pursuant to the petition, 
whichever is later; or
(B) have not reported for work for a period of 5 
consecutive workdays without the consent of the 
employer;
(5) the number of final and unexecuted orders of removal 
against citizens, subjects, nationals, and residents of the 
country; and
(6) such other factors as may serve the United States 
interest.
(b) Limitation.--A country may not be included on the list 
described in subsection (a) if the country denies or unreasonably 
delays the repatriation of aliens who are subject to a final order of 
removal and who are citizens, subjects, nationals, or residents of that 
country.
(c) Statistics.--The Secretary of Homeland Security shall include 
in the notice described in subsection (a), for each country included in 
the list of participating countries, the statistics referenced in 
paragraphs (1) through (5) of that subsection, if available, for the 
immediately preceding fiscal year.
(d) National From a Country Not on the List.--A national from a 
country not on the list described in subsection (a) may be a 
beneficiary of an approved petition under such section 
101(a)(15)(H)(ii) upon the request of a petitioner or potential 
petitioner, if the Secretary of Homeland Security, in his sole and 
unreviewable discretion, determines that it is in the United States 
interest for that alien to be a beneficiary of such petition. 
Determination of such a United States interest will take into account 
factors, including but not limited to--
(1) evidence from the petitioner demonstrating that a 
worker with the required skills is not available from among 
foreign workers from a country currently on the list described 
in subsection (a);
(2) evidence that the beneficiary has been admitted to the 
United States previously in status under such section 
101(a)(15)(H)(ii);
(3) the potential for abuse, fraud, or other harm to the 
integrity of the visa program under such section 
101(a)(15)(H)(ii) through the potential admission of a 
beneficiary from a country not currently on the list; and
(4) such other factors as may serve the United States 
interest.
(e) Duration.--Once published, any designation of participating 
countries pursuant to subsection (a) shall be effective for one year 
after the date of publication in the Federal Register and shall be 
without effect at the end of that one-year period.

SEC. 8. H-2B EMPLOYER NOTIFICATION REQUIREMENT.

(a) In General.--An employer of one or more H-2B workers shall, 
within three business days, make electronic notification, in the manner 
prescribed by the Secretary of Homeland Security, of the following 
events:
(1) Such a worker fails to report to work within 5 workdays 
of the employment start date on the petition or within 5 
workdays of the date on which the worker is admitted into the 
United States pursuant to the petition, whichever is later.
(2) The labor or services for which such a worker was hired 
is completed more than 30 days earlier than the employment end 
date stated on the petition.
(3) The employment of such a worker is terminated prior to 
the completion of labor or services for which he or she was 
hired.
(4) Such a worker has not reported for work for a period of 
5 consecutive workdays without the consent of the employer.
(b) Evidence.--An employer shall retain evidence of a notification 
described in subsection (a) and make it available for inspection by 
officers of the Department of Homeland Security for a 1-year period 
beginning on the date of the notification.
(c) Penalty.--The Secretary shall impose civil monetary penalties, 
in an amount not less than $500 per violation and not to exceed $1,000 
per violation, as the Secretary determines to be appropriate, for each 
instance where the employer cannot demonstrate that it has complied 
with the notification requirements, unless, in the case of an untimely 
notification, the employer demonstrates with such notification that 
good cause existed for the untimely notification, and the Secretary of 
Homeland Security, in the Secretary's discretion, waives such penalty.
(d) Process.--If the Secretary has determined that an employer has 
violated the notification requirements in subsection (a), the employer 
shall be given written notice and 30 days to reply before being given 
written notice of the assessment of the penalty.
(e) Failure To Pay Penalty.--If a penalty described in subsection 
(c) is not paid within 10 days of assessment, no nonimmigrant or 
immigrant petition may be processed for that employer, nor may that 
employer continue to employ nonimmigrants, until such penalty is paid.

SEC. 9. DEFINITIONS.

For purposes of this Act:
(1) The term ``H-2B'', when used with respect to a worker 
or other individual, refers to an alien admitted or provided 
status as a nonimmigrant described in section 
101(a)(15)(H)(ii)(b) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 
U.S.C. 1101(a)(15)(H)(ii)(b)). Such term, when used with 
respect to a petition, procedure, process, program, or visa, 
refers to a petition, procedure, process, program, or visa 
related to admission or provision of status under such section.
(2) The term ``job order'' means the document containing 
the material terms and conditions of employment, including 
obligations and assurances required under this Act or any other 
law.
(3) The term ``United States worker'' means any employee 
who is--
(A) a national of the United States (as defined in 
section 101(a)(22) of the Immigration and Nationality 
Act (8 U.S.C. 1101(a)(22))); or
(B) an alien lawfully admitted for permanent 
residence, is admitted as a refugee under section 207 
of such Act (8 U.S.C. 1157), is granted asylum under 
section 208 of such Act (8 U.S.C. 1158), or is an 
immigrant otherwise authorized by the immigration laws 
(as defined in section 101(a)(17) of such Act (8 U.S.C. 
1101(a)(17))) or the Secretary of Homeland Security to 
be employed.
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