To amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to base the numerical limitations for H-2B nonimmigrants on economic need, and for other purposes.

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress] [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office] [H.R. 7682 Introduced in House (IH)] <DOC> 119th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 7682 To amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to base the numerical limitations for H-2B nonimmigrants on economic need, and for other purposes. _______________________________________________________________________ IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES February 25, 2026 Mr. Bergman (for himself, Ms. Scholten, and Mr. Moolenaar) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committee on Education and Workforce, 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 _______________________________________________________________________ A BILL To amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to base the numerical limitations for H-2B nonimmigrants on economic need, and for other purposes. 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 ``Closing the Workforce Gap Act of 2026''. SEC. 2. NUMERICAL LIMITATIONS FOR H-2B NONIMMIGRANTS BASED ON ECONOMIC NEED. (a) In General.--Section 214(g) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1184(g)) is amended-- (1) by amending paragraph (1)(B) to read as follows: ``(B) except as provided in subsection (s), under section 101(a)(15)(H)(ii)(b) may not exceed the number of Department of Labor certified positions for the previous fiscal year with respect to nonimmigrants described in section 101(a)(15)(H)(ii)(b).''; and (2) in paragraph (10), by striking ``33,000'' and inserting ``half of the number described in paragraph (1)(B)''. (b) Exemption From Numerical Limitation for Rural and Seasonal Location Workers.--Section 214 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1184) is amended by a