Overview

• Senator Jim Banks introduced the American Tech Workforce Act to raise H‑1B pay thresholds, end the OPT program, curb third‑party placements, and award visas by highest listed compensation.
• Coverage describes a wage floor set at least at $110,000 with a separate provision proposing an increase to $150,000, reflecting a sharp reset of salary requirements.
• Separately, Bloomberg reported the White House plans a proclamation to require a $100,000 payment for H‑1B entry and to direct the Labor Department to revise prevailing‑wage rules, with no formal announcement yet.
• Moving from a lottery to compensation‑based selection would favor higher‑paid roles and large employers while pressuring staffing companies and client‑site placement models.
• Economists and immigration lawyers warned the reported fee could effectively halt routine sponsorship and invite lawsuits, while Banks’s legislation begins Senate committee scrutiny.