PHDs First Act

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress] [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office] [H.R. 4867 Introduced in House (IH)] <DOC> 119th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 4867 To provide lawful permanent resident status and authorized dual intent for certain doctoral degree holders. _______________________________________________________________________ IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES August 1, 2025 Mr. Thanedar (for himself and Mr. Lawler) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary _______________________________________________________________________ A BILL To provide lawful permanent resident status and authorized dual intent for certain doctoral degree holders. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. This Act may be cited as the ``Putting Highest Degrees First Act of 2025'' or the ``PHDs First Act''. SEC. 2. EXEMPTION FROM NUMERICAL LIMITATIONS ON PERMANENT RESIDENTS FOR CERTAIN DOCTORAL DEGREE HOLDERS. (a) In General.--Section 201(b)(1) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1151(b)(1)) is amended by adding at the end the following: ``(F) Aliens who-- ``(i) have earned a doctoral degree in a field of study (or the terminal highest degree awarded in a field of study for which a doctoral degree or its equivalent is not available) while physically present in the United States from a United States institution of higher education (as defined in section 101(a) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001(a))) accredited by a nationally recognized accrediting agency or association recognized by the Secretary of Education pursuant to part H of title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1099a et seq.); ``(ii) have an offer of employment from, or are employed by, a United States employer in a field related to such degree at a rate of pay that is higher than the median wage level for the occupational classification in t