A group of 100 members of Congress, led by Representatives Mike Lawler (NY-17) and Yvette Clarke (NY-09), have sent a bipartisan, bicameral letter to Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem. The lawmakers are urging the department to exempt the health care sector from a new $100,000 fee imposed on employers petitioning for new H-1B visas.
In their letter, the legislators highlighted ongoing workforce shortages in health care and their impact on both rural and urban communities. They wrote, “Worsening workforce shortages across all health care professions are significantly diminishing access to care in rural and urban communities across the nation. According to the Health Resources and Services Administration, nearly 87 million Americans live in areas federally designated as lacking enough medical professionals to address the community’s health care needs.”
The letter warns that introducing a $100,000 fee for each new H-1B visa petition could worsen staffing challenges at hospitals. The lawmakers stated, “Imposing a $100,000 fee for new H-1B visa petitions will exacerbate hospitals’ existing staffing challenges and could push chronically underfunded hospitals to their financial brink. If these hospitals cannot petition for new H-1B visas to address their staffing needs without also having to pay this fee, it will further damage their financial viability. Critically needed open positions will simply go unfilled, leaving rural and high-poverty urban areas without adequate access to Care. We strongly urge you to exempt the health care sector from this burdensome fee.”
Several industry leaders voiced support for the exemption request. Ken Raske, President of the Greater New York Hospital Association, said: “New York hospitals have long used the H-1B visa program to ensure they can deliver world-class health care, train the next generation of physicians, and conduct cutting-edge research. The filing fee for H-1B visa petitions poses a grave threat to this critical mission. It will further strain hospitals, exacerbate ongoing workforce shortages, and diminish access to care. I thank Representatives Clarke and Lawler for their leadership and advocacy on this important issue.”
Danielle Turnipseed of the Association of American Medical Colleges added: “We know the positive impact that H-1 visa holders have in health care – they help fill in the gap in our country’s health care delivery system, providing care where it is needed most and in the face of acute workforce shortages. The AAMC knows that restricting access to H1-B visas will worsen the nation’s existing physician shortage, put strains on the health care workforce and ultimately jeopardize patient access to care, and we simply can’t let any of those things happen.”
Bea Grause from Healthcare Association of New York State stated: “The H-1B visa program is a critical lifeline to healthcare organizations statewide, helping to ease existing workforce shortages in underserved communities… HANYS applauds Representatives Clarke and Lawler for leading on this important issue and calling on DHS to exempt the healthcare industry from additional undue burden.”
René Bravo from California Medical Association commented: “As a physician and as president of the California Medical Association, I see firsthand how deeply our health care system depends on international medical professionals… A $100,000 fee on H-1B visas is not just excessive, it is a direct threat to patient access to care. Exempting the health care sector is squarely in the national interest…”
The letter received signatures from members across both chambers of Congress.
It also has support from numerous organizations representing hospitals, physicians’ groups, medical colleges and other stakeholders within U.S. healthcare.
Mike Lawler represents New York’s 17th Congressional District north of New York City—covering Rockland, Putnam, Dutchess and Westchester Counties—and was recognized as one of Congress’s most bipartisan members as well as its most effective freshman lawmaker during his first term.
