Eliminate exemptions to the H-1B visa cap for universities, research institutions, and non-profits, including for individuals holding a master's degree or higher from a U.S. institution.

This bill restricts the ability of universities, research institutions, and non-profits to hire an unlimited number of foreign workers. ... The Visa Cap Enforcement Act would: Eliminate four exemptions to the H-1B visa cap, including one for foreigners who hold a master’s degree or higher from a U.S. institution.

Tom Cotton promises to eliminate exemptions allowing universities, research institutions, and non-profits to bypass the standard H-1B visa cap, specifically including those for workers with master's degrees or higher from U.S. institutions.

Cotton Introduces Bill to Close H-1B Visa Loopholes in Academia
secondary · other · model gpt-4.1

Senator Cotton said his Visa Cap Enforcement Act would restrict universities, research institutions, and non-profits, and would eliminate four H-1B cap exemptions, including one for people with a master's degree or higher from a U.S. institution.

Concrete legislative action matching the promise: Cotton introduced a bill to eliminate the listed H-1B cap exemptions.

partial same_term A for effort

Cotton Introduces Bill to Close H-1B Visa Loopholes in Academia
secondary · model gpt-5.4-mini · confidence 98%

Congress.gov shows S.2941 was introduced by Sen. Cotton on 09/30/2025, read twice, and referred to the Senate Judiciary Committee; the tracker status is Introduced and the bill history lists only the introduction action.

The proposal advanced no further than introduction and committee referral, so the promised policy change was not enacted.

never unknown A for effort

S.2941 - Visa Cap Enforcement Act | Congress.gov
secondary · model gpt-5.4-mini · confidence 97%

The CRS summary states that current law exempts petitions filed for workers employed at institutions of higher education, nonprofit research organizations, and governmental research organizations, and also exempts certain master's-degree H-1B petitions.

This confirms the exemptions targeted by Cotton still existed in the federal system during the relevant period, so the claimed change would require enacted legislation.

unresolved unknown

U.S. Employment-Based Immigration Policy | Congress.gov
secondary · model gpt-5.4-mini · confidence 74%