Bill Overview
Title: Bridging the Gap for New Americans Act
Description: This act requires the Department of Labor to submit to Congress a study on the factors affecting employment opportunities for certain individuals with professional credentials obtained in a non-U.S. country, specifically individuals who are lawfully present noncitizens or naturalized U.S. citizens. The study shall include policy recommendations for better enabling such individuals to obtain skill-appropriate employment in the United States.
Sponsors: Sen. Klobuchar, Amy [D-MN]
Target Audience
Population: People with foreign professional credentials looking for skill-appropriate employment in the U.S.
Estimated Size: 5000000
- The bill impacts individuals with professional credentials who obtained these credentials outside of the U.S.
- This includes lawfully present noncitizens, such as permanent residents, refugees, or individuals with work visas.
- Naturalized U.S. citizens with foreign professional credentials are also included.
- The bill is likely to impact professionals in a wide range of fields who are struggling to have their credentials recognized in the U.S.
- The bill seeks to address employment opportunities thereby affecting people who are entering or trying to improve their participation in the U.S. job market.
Reasoning
- The population estimated to be impacted by the policy includes lawfully present noncitizens and naturalized U.S. citizens with foreign professional credentials. This is a diverse group that likely includes both those facing significant employment barriers and others who are less affected due to varying recognition of their credentials.
- The $3,000,000 budget restricts the scope and depth of initial policy impacts. Therefore, only a certain subset within this group may feel significant changes early on, but foundational studies can pave the way for more comprehensive future policies.
- Impact is likely most notable on those who lack recognized pathways for credential verification or work in fields requiring specific licensing, such as healthcare or engineering.
- The target group's estimated size versus budget means the policy's direct effects will trend towards medium to low initially. Simulated individuals should reflect this variety, including non-impacted members to account for diversity.
Simulated Interviews
Civil Engineer (San Francisco, CA)
Age: 36 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 12/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I think this policy could help streamline the process for recognizing my credentials.
- It's been a challenge navigating the various requirements to practice here.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 6 |
Registered Nurse (New York, NY)
Age: 29 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 15/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I would welcome any support to achieve recognition of my qualifications.
- It's frustrating not being able to work in my trained capacity.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 5 |
IT Specialist (Miami, FL)
Age: 45 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 0.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy won't change much for me as I am already working according to my qualifications.
- However, it's good if it helps newcomers.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 8 |
Architect (Austin, TX)
Age: 32 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 7.0 years
Commonness: 11/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The complexity of licensing is a major barrier, so I hope this study leads to actionable changes.
- I'm optimistic about long-term benefits.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 6 |
Accountant (Chicago, IL)
Age: 55 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 4
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 9/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Recognition of international experience in the accountancy field is much needed.
- The policy could be a turning point for many of us here.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 5 |
Research Scientist (Los Angeles, CA)
Age: 40 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Already having success in my field, but I support policies fostering equitable access to opportunities.
- This might help my colleagues in similar positions.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 7 |
Veterinarian (Houston, TX)
Age: 37 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Having a more structured and recognized pathway would be very beneficial.
- There's a lot of uncertainty in the current process.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 6 |
Software Developer (Seattle, WA)
Age: 27 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 2.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Though not an immediate barrier for me, this could help others if it addresses industry access disparities.
- Potential to improve recognition of combined international-U.S. credentials.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 7 |
Teacher (Philadelphia, PA)
Age: 60 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 1.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Retirement approaching, policy's direct impact on me is limited, but it could change future professional landscapes.
- Interesting to see how this plays out for the education sector.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 5 |
Chef (Boston, MA)
Age: 34 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 4
Duration of Impact: 8.0 years
Commonness: 3/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Recognition of foreign culinary expertise is usually more informal, but formal recognition could open new doors.
- Support in this field is rarely discussed.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 5 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $3000000 (Low: $2500000, High: $4000000)
Year 2: $0 (Low: $0, High: $0)
Year 3: $0 (Low: $0, High: $0)
Year 5: $0 (Low: $0, High: $0)
Year 10: $0 (Low: $0, High: $0)
Year 100: $0 (Low: $0, High: $0)
Key Considerations
- The scope of the study is critical, as a broader scope could increase costs due to more extensive research requirements.
- Potential long-term impacts include better integration of skilled immigrants, leading to economic benefits beyond the immediate cost.
- There may be potential political and public interest implications that could influence future policy decisions post-study.