Physicians eyed for H‑1B fee exemption
Bipartisan legislation was introduced this week to exempt physicians and healthcare workers from the proposed $100,000 H‑1B application fee, a targeted carve‑out for specialized medical recruits. (x.com)
The measure is titled the H‑1Bs for Physicians and the Healthcare Workforce Act (H.R. 7961) and was introduced March 17, 2026 by Rep. Mike Lawler with co‑sponsors Reps. Sanford D. Bishop Jr., Maria Elvira Salazar and Yvette Clarke. (lawler.house.gov) H.R. 7961 would carve out health care workers as defined under the Affordable Care Act from the Presidential Proclamation’s $100,000 filing requirement and would bar imposition of any new H‑1B fees on health care workers that exceed existing statutory fees. (congress.gov) The $100,000 payment requirement was created by Presidential Proclamation 10973, signed September 19, 2025 and effective for new H‑1B petitions filed on or after 12:01 a.m. EDT on September 21, 2025. (whitehouse.gov) The American Medical Association issued a press release March 17, 2026 praising the bill and noting international medical graduates comprise roughly one in four practicing U.S. physicians. (ama-assn.org) Rep. Lawler and Rep. Clarke led a bipartisan, bicameral letter to DHS Secretary Kristi Noem on Feb. 11, 2026 that was signed by about 98–100 members urging a health‑care sector exemption before the House bill’s introduction. (clarke.house.gov) Congress.gov shows H.R. 7961 was referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary on March 17, 2026 and currently carries an “Introduced” status while text and CRS analysis are being posted. (congress.gov)
