United States · Bill · S
S. 1723 (105th)
American Competitiveness Act
Introduced
6 March 1998
Last action
27 May 1998 · Referred
Status
Referred to the Subcommittee on Immigration and Claims.
Sponsors
Sen. Abraham, Spencer [R-MI], Sen. Hatch, Orrin G. [R-UT], Sen. McCain, John [R-AZ], Sen. DeWine, Mike [R-OH], Sen. Specter, Arlen [R-PA], Sen. Grams, Rod [R-MN], Sen. Brownback, Sam [R-KS], Sen. Thurmond, Strom [R-SC], Sen. Santorum, Rick [R-PA], Sen. Ashcroft, John [R-MO], Sen. Smith, Gordon H. [R-OR], Sen. Hagel, Chuck [R-NE], Sen. Bennett, Robert F. [R-UT], Sen. Mack, Connie, III [R-FL], Sen. Coverdell, Paul [R-GA], Sen. Graham, Bob [D-FL], Sen. Lieberman, Joseph I. [ID-CT], Sen. Burns, Conrad R. [R-MT], Sen. Bond, Christopher S. [R-MO], Sen. Faircloth, Lauch [R-NC], Sen. Craig, Larry E. [R-ID], Sen. Gorton, Slade [R-WA]
Subjects
Healthcare, Immigration, Education
Source updated
10 August 2026
Healthcare · Immigration · Education
Summary
American Competitiveness Act - Amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to establish an H1-C nonimmigrant category of nonphysician health care workers. (Removes such aliens from the H-1B skilled worker category.) Increases H1-B visa levels, and makes available to such category a certain number of unused visas from specified other temporary visa categories. (Sec. 4) Amends the Higher Education Act of 1965 to authorize appropriations for the State Student Incentive Grant program. Obligates specified amounts for grants to low-income students in higher education programs of mathematics, computer science, or engineering. Directs the Secretary of Labor to establish or improve an Internet technology employment data bank. Authorizes appropriations. (Sec. 5) Revises and increases penalties for violations of the H1-B or H1-C programs. Transfers labor condition application authority from the Secretary to the Attorney General. Defines "prevailing wage." (Sec. 6) Directs the Attorney General to submit an annual H1-B visa report. (Sec. 7) Exempts employment-based immigrants from per country limitations if unused visas are available during a calendar quarter. Authorizes nonimmigrant status extension for certain aliens who: (1) have petitions pending for employment-based immigrant status adjustment; and (2) are subject to per country limitations. (Sec. 8) Authorizes H1-B aliens to accept academic honorarium payments for services on behalf of an institution of higher education or other nonprofit entity.
This text is taken from the official record. PoliticalRepo does not editorialize.
Timeline
6 March 1998
Introduced
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Judiciary.
Source: IntroReferral
6 March 1998
Introduced
Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S1516-1521)
Source: IntroReferral
6 March 1998
Introduced
Introduced in Senate
Source: IntroReferral
19 March 1998
Introduced
Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S2244)
Source: IntroReferral
2 April 1998
Calendars
Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 335.
Source: Calendars
2 April 1998
Reported
Committee on Judiciary. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
Source: Committee
2 April 1998
Reported
Committee on Judiciary. Reported to Senate by Senator Hatch with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. Without written report.
Source: Committee
11 May 1998
Floor
By Senator Hatch from Committee on Judiciary filed written report. Report No. 105-186. Additional views filed.
Source: Floor
11 May 1998
Committee
By Senator Hatch from Committee on Judiciary filed written report. Report No. 105-186. Additional views filed.
Source: Committee
18 May 1998
Floor
Measure laid before Senate. (consideration: CR S4954-5001)
Source: Floor
18 May 1998
Vote
Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate with an amendment by Yea-Nay Vote. 78-20. Record Vote No: 141.
Source: Floor
19 May 1998
Introduced
Referred to House Judiciary
Source: IntroReferral
19 May 1998
Introduced
Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committees on Education and the Workforce, and International Relations, 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.
Source: IntroReferral
19 May 1998
Floor
Message on Senate action sent to the House.
Source: Floor
19 May 1998
Floor
Received in the House.
Source: Floor
27 May 1998
Referred
Referred to the Subcommittee on Immigration and Claims.
Source: Committee
Votes
18 May 1998 · Bill Passed · On Passage of the Bill S. 1723 · Bill Passed · Official source
Yes 78 · No 20 · Abstain — · Absent/not voting 2
- Sen. D'Amato, Alfonse [R-NY]Not Voting
- Sen. Specter, Arlen [R-PA]Yea
- Sen. Boxer, Barbara [D-CA]Yea
- Sen. Mikulski, Barbara A. [D-MD]Nay
Showing the first 4 recorded positions. Vote totals above are complete.
Versions
- Referred in House · 19 May 1998 · Download file
- Engrossed in Senate · 18 May 1998 · Download file
- Reported to Senate · 2 April 1998 · Download file
- Introduced in Senate · 6 March 1998 · Download file
Documents
11 official files
Referred in House (text)
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Leesvertaling
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Referred in House (text)
Referred in House · EN · 19 May 1998
Referred in House (PDF)
Referred in House · EN · 19 May 1998
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Engrossed in Senate (text)
Engrossed in Senate · EN · 18 May 1998
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Engrossed in Senate (PDF)
Engrossed in Senate · EN · 18 May 1998
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Passed Senate amended
summary · EN · 18 May 1998
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Reported to Senate (text)
Reported to Senate · EN · 2 April 1998
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Reported to Senate (PDF)
Reported to Senate · EN · 2 April 1998
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Reported to Senate with amendment(s)
summary · EN · 2 April 1998
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Introduced in Senate (text)
Introduced in Senate · EN · 6 March 1998
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Introduced in Senate (PDF)
Introduced in Senate · EN · 6 March 1998
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Introduced in Senate
summary · EN · 6 March 1998
Leesvertaling
Vertaal dit document naar jouw taal. PoliticalRepo bewaart geen aparte kopie per EU-taal.
Documentvertaling op verzoek met downloadbare PDF (logo + link naar de officiële bron). Het bronbestand blijft leidend.
Sponsors
- Sen. Abraham, Spencer [R-MI] · R · Sponsor
- Sen. Hatch, Orrin G. [R-UT] · R · Sponsor
- Sen. McCain, John [R-AZ] · R · Sponsor
- Sen. DeWine, Mike [R-OH] · R · Sponsor
- Sen. Specter, Arlen [R-PA] · R · Sponsor
- Sen. Grams, Rod [R-MN] · R · Cosponsor
- Sen. Brownback, Sam [R-KS] · R · Cosponsor
- Sen. Thurmond, Strom [R-SC] · R · Cosponsor
- Sen. Santorum, Rick [R-PA] · R · Cosponsor
- Sen. Ashcroft, John [R-MO] · R · Cosponsor
- Sen. Smith, Gordon H. [R-OR] · R · Cosponsor
- Sen. Hagel, Chuck [R-NE] · R · Cosponsor
- Sen. Bennett, Robert F. [R-UT] · R · Cosponsor
- Sen. Mack, Connie, III [R-FL] · R · Cosponsor
- Sen. Coverdell, Paul [R-GA] · R · Cosponsor
- Sen. Graham, Bob [D-FL] · D · Cosponsor
- Sen. Lieberman, Joseph I. [ID-CT] · D · Cosponsor
- Sen. Burns, Conrad R. [R-MT] · R · Cosponsor
- Sen. Bond, Christopher S. [R-MO] · R · Cosponsor
- Sen. Faircloth, Lauch [R-NC] · R · Cosponsor
- Sen. Craig, Larry E. [R-ID] · R · Cosponsor
- Sen. Gorton, Slade [R-WA] · R · Cosponsor
- · hsju00 · Standing
- · hsfa00 · Standing
- · hsed00 · Standing
- · ssju00 · Standing
Related records
- amends ← To amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to provide for special immigrant status for NATO civilian employees in the same manner as for employees of international organizations.
- amends ← To strike section 4, relating to education and training in science and technology.
- amends ← To repeal the Immigrant Investor Program.
- amends ← To set forth manager amendments.
- amends ← To provide whistleblower protection to foreign H-1B workers who file successful complaints against employers for violations of the H-1B program.
- amends ← To ensure that employers recruit qualified United States workers first, before applying for foreign workers under the H-1B visa program.
- amends ← To require that applications for passports for minors have parental signatures.
- amends ← To ensure that participating employers cannot lay off United States workers and replace them with temporary foreign workers under the H-1B visa program.
Sources
PoliticalRepo is an index and interpretation layer, not the authoritative legal source.
- Official source: https://www.congress.gov/bill/105th-congress/senate-bill/1723
- Open data entity: https://api.congress.gov/v3/bill/105/s/1723
- us · 105-s-1723 · source updated 10 August 2026