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Keep Innovators in America Act
To amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to codify the Optional Practical Training program.
Summary
- Amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to codify the Optional Practical Training program as a statutory right for F-1 student visa holders.
- Authorizes the Secretary of Homeland Security to permit F-1 students to engage in practical training and employment related to their field of study under terms and conditions set by the Secretary.
- Allows employment authorization to extend beyond the completion of degree requirements, provided the employment is related to the student's field of study.
- Permits F-1 students to maintain student status if they are beneficiaries of a pending or approved petition for another visa category, provided their course of study remains consistent with F-1 visa regulations.
AI-generated plain-language summary of the bill text — neutral, and may be imperfect. See the full text below for the exact wording.
Sponsor (1)
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![Rep. Liccardo, Sam T. [D-CA-16]](https://media.civicgate.org/people/d/politicians/L000607.thumb.jpg)
Rep. Liccardo, Sam T. (D-CA) [#16]
2 cosponsors
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![Rep. Krishnamoorthi, Raja [D-IL-8]](https://media.civicgate.org/people/d/politicians/K000391.thumb.jpg)
Rep. Krishnamoorthi, Raja (D-IL) [#8] -
![Rep. Obernolte, Jay [R-CA-23]](https://media.civicgate.org/people/d/politicians/O000019.thumb.jpg)
Rep. Obernolte, Jay (R-CA) [#23]
Actions (2)
- Mar 19, 2026 Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary. · house
- Mar 19, 2026 Introduced in House
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Text versions (1)
Bills are re-published as they move (Introduced → Reported → Engrossed → Enrolled …). Each stage below is a separate text; pick two to see what changed. Data from Congress.gov.
Full text
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
March 19, 2026
Mr. Liccardo (for himself, Mr. Obernolte, and Mr. Krishnamoorthi) 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. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the “Keep Innovators in America Act”.
SEC. 2. IN GENERAL.
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 time it appears the following: “, except that such a course of study may include practical training and employment authorization under terms and conditions set by the Secretary of Homeland Security as long as such employment is related to the field of study, including after completion of degree requirements, and that such an alien may maintain student status under this section if the alien is the beneficiary of a pending or approved petition filed pursuant to section 204(a)(1) except that as an enrolled student the alien’s course of study must be consistent with section 214(m)”. <all>
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