H.R. 8683

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 8683 Introduced in House (IH)]

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119th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 8683

To amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to codify the Optional 
Practical Training program.

_______________________________________________________________________

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

May 7, 2026

Mrs. Foushee introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
Committee on the Judiciary

_______________________________________________________________________

A BILL

To amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to codify the Optional 
Practical Training program.

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

SECTION 1. CODIFY OPTIONAL PRACTICAL TRAINING PROGRAM.

(a) Course of Study.--Section 101(a)(15)(F)(i) of the Immigration 
and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1101(a)(15)(F)(i)) is amended by 
inserting after ``course of study'' the second times it appears ``, 
including practical training and employment authorization described 
under section 214(m)(3),''.
(b) Practical Training and Employment Authorization.--Section 
214(m) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1184(m)) is 
amended by adding at the end the following:
``(3)(A) With respect to an alien who obtains the status of 
a nonimmigrant under section 101(a)(15)(F)(i), a full course of 
study may include practical training and employment 
authorization for a period of up to 24 months if such 
employment is related to the field of study undertaken by the 
nonimmigrant.
``(B) With respect to an alien who obtains the 
status of a nonimmigrant under section 101(a)(15)(F)(i) 
and is pursuing or has completed a full course of study 
in a science, technology, engineering, or mathematics 
field, a full course of study may include practical 
training and employment authorization for a period of 
up to 48 months if such employment is related to the 
field of study undertaken by the nonimmigrant.
``(C) The Secretary of Homeland Security may 
establish terms and conditions necessary for the 
practical training and employment authorization 
period.''.
(c) Nursing.--The Secretary of Homeland Security shall take such 
actions as may be necessary to make nursing a science, technology, 
engineering, or mathematics field for the purpose of section 
214(m)(3)(B) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 
1184(m)(3)(B)).
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