Closing the Workforce Gap Act of 2026

This bill would change the yearly cap on H-2B visas for temporary non-farm workers so that it equals the number of positions the Department of Labor certified in the previous fiscal year, instead of a fixed number. Workers employed in rural areas with large seasonal population increases would not count toward the cap. The bill would raise a petition fee, require minimum fines for employers who willfully misrepresent facts or break program rules, and bar employers and recruiters from charging workers fees related to the visa process. It would also require employers to keep written workplace safety plans, report certain worker absences or job endings within three business days, and limit H-2B visas mainly to citizens of countries the Department of Homeland Security designates each year.

Full text and official record on Congress.gov

Sponsors

• Jack Bergman Republican sponsor
• 2 cosponsors