House Bill Seeks To Scrap H-1B Visas – Schools And Colleges Watch For Hiring Ripple Effects

Washington, D.C. — A newly introduced House bill that would eliminate the federal H-1B visa program could affect how some school districts, colleges and universities recruit hard-to-fill educators and staff, especially in specialized roles where hiring pools are tight.

Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., introduced H.R. 6937 on Friday. The measure would amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to eliminate the H-1B program, according to the bill listing on Congress.gov. The proposal was referred to the House Judiciary Committee, with additional referrals to Energy and Commerce and Ways and Means.

The H-1B visa is commonly associated with private-sector professional jobs, but higher education and some K-12 employers also use work visas to recruit talent for roles such as university researchers and faculty, language instruction, and other specialized positions. If the program were eliminated, those institutions could face fewer options for filling certain vacancies, potentially adding pressure in communities already dealing with staffing shortages.

For families, the near-term impact is likely limited because the bill has only been introduced and has not advanced to a hearing or vote. Still, parents may want to pay attention if their district relies on hard-to-staff programs, such as advanced coursework, specialized student services, or niche electives, where recruiting can be difficult.

What parents should know

Track the bill’s status and text on Congress.gov and watch for committee hearings. If you have concerns about staffing in your district, ask school leaders how they recruit for specialized positions.

Next steps depend on whether House committees schedule hearings or markups. Congress.gov indicates a legislative analyst summary will be added after bill text becomes available.

This article was produced by an education parenting today journalist with the assistance of AI. This is not legal advice. All content is reviewed for accuracy and fairness.