February 23, 2026
A bipartisan, bicameral group of 100 U.S. lawmakers, led by Reps. Yvette D. Clarke (D-NY) and Michael Lawler (R-NY), sent a letter to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) formally urging the agency to exempt the health-care sector from a newly introduced $100,000 fee on employers filing new H-1B visa petitions.
The lawmakers contend that the fee, created under a 2025 presidential proclamation, could worsen existing workforce shortages in hospitals and medical facilities and threaten access to care in both rural and urban communities. They cited federal workforce data showing significant gaps in medical professionals and warned that domestic labor markets alone cannot meet demand.
The letter outlines concerns that the fee would disproportionately affect financially strained health-care providers, potentially pushing some hospitals toward financial instability and leaving critical positions unfilled. Lawmakers stressed that international health-care workers, including physicians, clinical laboratory staff, and specialists reliant on H-1B visas, play essential roles in maintaining health services nationwide.
The coalition pointed to the discretionary authority within the proclamation, which allows DHS to grant exemptions to sectors deemed in the national interest, and argued that health care meets that criterion, given ongoing shortages and patient care needs. The group is awaiting a response on whether the exemption will be granted.