A bunch of 100 US lawmakers have urged Division of Homeland Safety (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem to exempt the well being care sector from new restrictions linked to the H-1B visa programme. Within the letter dated February 11, 2026, the lawmakers expressed concern over the September 19 Presidential Proclamation that imposed a $100,000 payment on employers submitting new H-1B visa petitions, warning that the payment might worsen staffing shortages throughout the well being care system. The lawmakers says that the presidential order permits DHS to grant sector-wide exemption so long as it “is within the nationwide curiosity and doesn’t pose a risk to the safety or welfare of the USA.” Within the letter, the lawmakers argued that well being care qualifies for such exemption. The lawmakers additional cited federal information exhibiting widespread shortages of medical doctors, laboratory professionals, and different expert employees. In addition they warned that hospitals and clinics, notably in rural areas and concrete communities, rely closely on worldwide well being employees to take care of providers. “These shortages can’t be stuffed by the home workforce alone,” the letter says, additional stating that the added value might go away important roles unfilled and cut back entry to take care of hundreds of thousands of Individuals.
Learn the 400-plus phrase letter that US lawmakers despatched to DHS secretary
“Pricey Secretary NoemWe’re deeply involved in regards to the affect of the September 19 Presidential Proclamation, “Restriction on Entry of Sure Nonimmigrant Employees,” on the well being care workforce. The Proclamation imposes a $100,000 payment on employers that petition for a brand new H-1B visa, but in addition acknowledges the Division of Homeland Safety Secretary’s authority to grant sector-wide exemptions, as long as it “is within the nationwide curiosity and doesn’t pose a risk to the safety or welfare of the USA.” We urge you to create a well being care sector exemption to forestall extra pressure on the well being care workforce.Worsening workforce shortages throughout all well being care professions are considerably diminishing entry to care in rural and concrete communities throughout the nation. In line with the Well being Assets and Companies Administration, practically 87 million Individuals reside in areas Federally designated as missing sufficient medical professionals to deal with the neighborhood’s well being care wants.Doctor demand might exceed provide by as much as 86,000 within the subsequent decade and medical laboratory science packages are educating lower than half the variety of medical laboratory professionals wanted. These shortages can’t be stuffed by the home workforce alone, and projections will worsen if well being care employers can not proceed to recruit and retain worldwide well being care employees.For over 30 years, well being care employers have used the H-1B visa program to recruit and retain the best worldwide expertise, positioning the US as a worldwide chief in well being care supply and innovation. Many members of the care group—together with extremely expert physicians, superior apply professionals, medical laboratory employees, and researchers—come to the U.S. from all over the world to supply specialised providers, ship care in underserved areas, and contribute to cutting-edge biomedical analysis.Well being care organizations should be capable to recruit employees in probably the most cost-effective method to allow them to use their monetary sources to rent as many caregivers as doable to deal with their communities. Rural hospitals and concrete security internet hospitals face unusual recruitment and retention points and can most acutely really feel the results of the $100,000 payment. These hospitals rely closely on the H-1B visa to take care of sufficient staffing and supply complete providers in high-need areas. 21 million Individuals reside in areas the place foreign-trained physicians account for not less than half of all training physicians.Imposing a $100,000 payment for brand new H-1B visa petitions will exacerbate hospitals’ present staffing challenges and will push chronically underfunded hospitals to their monetary brink. If these hospitals can not petition for brand new H-1B visas to deal with their staffing wants with out additionally having to pay this payment, it’s going to additional harm their monetary viability. Critically wanted open positions will merely go unfilled, leaving rural and high-poverty city areas with out sufficient entry to care.We strongly urge you to exempt the well being care sector from this burdensome payment. Thanks for contemplating our request.”
 Secretary Kristi Noem to exempt the health care sector from new restricti.){kind=link}