119-HR-6487
85•Excellent
To prohibit the issuance of certain visas to nationals of the People's Republic of China, and for other purposes.
Congress 119Introduced December 5, 2025
Summary
**Overview**
The SECURE STEM Act aims to restrict visa issuance and employment for nationals from specific countries, primarily China, in sensitive academic and research sectors. The bill targets individuals seeking entry to the United States through certain visa categories.
**Key Provisions**
- •Prohibits issuing visas to nationals from China, Russia, Iran, North Korea, and Cuba in specific visa categories
- •Bans employment of covered foreign nationals at national research laboratories
- •Allows national interest waivers for individual cases determined by the Secretaries of State and Homeland Security
**Impact**
This legislation will significantly limit international students, researchers, and workers from targeted countries in STEM fields and research environments. The bill specifically restricts H-1B, student, exchange visitor, and specialized talent visas for individuals from these nations. National research labs and academic institutions will face substantial constraints in recruiting international talent.
**Fiscal Note**
No specific funding mentioned for implementation of the bill's provisions.
Full Text
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[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 6487 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 6487
To prohibit the issuance of certain visas to nationals of the People's
Republic of China, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
December 5, 2025
Mr. Harrigan (for himself and Mr. Moolenaar) introduced the following
bill; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in
addition to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, 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 prohibit the issuance of certain visas to nationals of the People's
Republic of China, 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 ``Securing Education and Critical U.S.
Research and Employment in STEM Act of 2025'' or the ``SECURE STEM
Act''.
SEC. 2. PROHIBITION ON CERTAIN VISA ISSUANCES.
(a) Visa Ineligibility.--Notwithstanding any other provision of law
and except as provided in subsection (c), the Secretary of State may
not issue a visa to, and the Secretary of Homeland Security may not
admit to the United States, a covered foreign national who is seeking
admission to the United States under a covered visa category.
(b) Employment Prohibition at National Laboratories.--Beginning on
the date of enactment of this Act, a national research laboratory may
not employ a covered foreign national who is present in the United
States under a covered visa category on the date of enactment of this
Act.
(c) National Interest Waiver.--The Secretary of State and the
Secretary of Homeland Security may jointly waive the application of
subsections (a) and (b) with respect to a specific individual if the
Secretaries determine that such a waiver is in the National interest of
the United States.
SEC. 3. REPORTING REQUIREMENTS.
The Secretary of State, in consultation with the Secretary of
Homeland Security, shall submit to the Committee on the Judiciary and
the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives, and
the Committee on the Judiciary and the Committee on Foreign Relations
of the Senate, a biannual report, including, for the previous 180-day
period--
(1) the total number of waivers granted under section 2(c);
(2) a summary of the justification for each waiver; and
(3) biographical information about each recipient of such a
waiver, including any prior affiliation with foreign state-
sponsored institutions.
SEC. 4. DEFINITIONS.
For purposes of this Act:
(1) The term ``covered visa category'' means a nonimmigrant
visa issued under any of the following:
(A) Section 101(a)(15)(H)(i)(b) of the Immigration
and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1101(a)(15)(H)(i)(b)).
(B) Section 101(a)(15)(O)(i) of the Immigration and
Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1101(a)(15)(O)(i)).
(C) Section 101(a)(15)(J) of the Immigration and
Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1101(a)(15)(J)).
(D) Section 101(a)(15)(F), (J), or (M) of the
Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C.
1101(a)(15)(F), (J), or (M)) (student visas).
(2) The term ``covered foreign national'' means an alien
who is a national of any of the following:
(A) The People's Republic of China.
(B) The Russian Federation.
(C) The Islamic Republic of Iran.
(D) The Democratic People's Republic of Korea.
(E) The Republic of Cuba.
(3) The term ``national research laboratory'' means a
``Federal laboratory'' as such term is defined in section 4 of
the Stevenson-Wydler Technology Innovation Act of 1980 (15
U.S.C. 3703).
SEC. 5. RULES.
Not later than 90 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the
Secretary of State, in consultation with the Secretary of Homeland
Security, shall make such rules as may be necessary to carry out this
Act.
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AI Analysis
85
Excellent
out of 100