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HR 3734 118th Congress House Immigration

Essential Workers for Economic Advancement Act

Introduced: May 25, 2023 Introduced by: Smucker, Lloyd Republican · Pennsylvania See on congress.gov
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This bill died when the 118th Congress ended
It never became law before the 118th Congress (2023–2024) adjourned, and bills don't carry over to the next Congress. It would have to be reintroduced. You can still save it for reference, but it won't receive updates.
 Everywhere this bill has been 2 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
May 25, 2023
Introduced in House
May 25, 2023
Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committees on Ways and Means, and Oversight and Accountability, 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.
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 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Essential Workers for Economic Advancement Act

This bill establishes a new nonimmigrant visa for temporary nonagricultural workers (H-2C visa) to fill jobs that have remained open for a certain amount of time and are located in an area where the unemployment rate is 7.9% or less. This visa shall only be available for certain occupations, and those requiring a bachelor's degree or higher level of education shall not be eligible.

The bill imposes various requirements related to H-2C positions, such as requiring that the employer make certain efforts to recruit a U.S. worker beforehand. The employer must register the opening before filling it with an H-2C worker, and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) shall maintain a publicly available registry of registered positions.

For the first fiscal year after the bill's enactment, no more than 65,000 positions may be registered. For subsequent fiscal years, the number shall be increased or decreased depending on how many positions were registered the previous year and how quickly the allotment was filled. A certain number of allocations shall be reserved for small businesses.

An employer seeking to hire H-2C workers shall register with DHS and provide documentation establishing that the employer meets various qualifications. An employer may become ineligible for registration for certain actions, such as having been penalized for a pattern of willful violation of wage and hour laws.

H-2C workers shall not be entitled to certain federal public benefits.

The Bureau of the Census shall report to Congress on the impact of the H-2C program.

What's happening now May 25, 2023

Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committees on Ways and Means, and Oversight and Accountability, 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.

 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 3
 Lobbying activity 31

Registered lobbyists who named this bill in their disclosure filings. Source: federal Lobbying Disclosure Act filings.

See all 31 filings →
 Cosponsors 3
All 3 Democratic 2 Republican 1
D
Davis, Donald G.
North Carolina · Mar 5, 2024
 R
Salazar, Maria Elvira
Florida · Sep 26, 2023
 D
Cuellar, Henry
Texas · May 25, 2023
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 3734: Essential Workers for Economic Advancement Act. 118th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/118-HR-3734/
MLA
"H.R. 3734: Essential Workers for Economic Advancement Act." 118th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/118-HR-3734/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 3734, 118th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/118-HR-3734/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 3734: Essential Workers for Economic Advancement Act](https://openamerica.io/bill/118-HR-3734/)
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