Mark Kelly, John Curtis Introduce Bipartisan State-Sponsored Visa Program

Senator Mark Kelly (D-AZ) is teaming up with Senator John Curtis (R-UT) once again to introduce a bipartisan temporary visa program that the states can tailor to individual needs.

What the Bill Does

In essence, Sen. Kelly's proposed State-Sponsored Visa Pilot Program Act posits that each state can establish temporary visa programs tailored to its labor market demands with Department of Homeland Security (DHS) approval and federal control over security screening, visa issuance, and immigration enforcement.

Further accountability measures include rigorous background checks for applicants, who are not allowed to receive federal means-tested benefits and must comply with all applicable tax laws; states are also required to regularly assess workforce needs and prevailing wages, thereby preventing the displacement of American workers.

States must also monitor participants' employment and residency, and if they fail to comply, the federal government has the right to reduce or suspend visa allocations.

What Kelly and Curtis are Saying

"States understand their own economic needs best, but federal rules currently determine who can live and work here," said Sen. Kelly in a press release. "Our bipartisan bill would let Arizona and other states choose the visas they need to fill labor gaps and strengthen their local economies."

Sen. Curtis added, "I've heard time and again from small business owners, farmers, and ranchers across Utah how difficult it has become to hire enough workers to meet growing market demands. Our legislation would help fill the gap by creating a pilot program allowing states to sponsor visas tailored to their unique economies, without sacrificing rigorous federal vetting or accountability."

Continued Partnership

The State-Sponsored Visa Pilot Program Act is the sixth instance of Kelly and Curtis's legislative bromance since November, with bills they have introduced and cosponsored ranging from social media algorithm accountability measures, wildfire deterrence, expanding mentorship and teaching opportunities for men, and digitizing roadmaps to ensure adequately updated navigation.