Bill · S. 1298· Senate(119-S-1298)
Religious Workforce Protection Act
- Introduced
- 4/3/2025
- Last activity
- 4/3/2025 — Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
- Sponsored by
- Timothy Kaine
- Cosponsors
- - 2 - 5
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
The Religious Workforce Protection Act aims to authorize the continuation of lawful nonimmigrant status for certain religious workers. This applies to those affected by the backlog for religious worker immigrant visas. The bill allows for the extension of nonimmigrant status while applications for adjustment of status or immigrant visas are being processed. It also introduces limited job flexibility for these specific workers. Additionally, the act provides an exemption to the 1-year foreign residence requirement for certain individuals.
Yes
Would immigrants be better off under this?+7
The bill directly benefits religious immigrant workers by allowing for status extensions during visa backlogs.
Does this make it easier for immigrants already here to become citizens?+6
The bill facilitates a smoother path to permanent residence for religious workers by allowing status extensions during visa backlogs.
Does this protect the freedom to practise a religion?+5
It protects the ability of religious organizations to maintain their workforce by addressing visa backlog issues.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
-
Extension of Nonimmigrant Status: The bill allows the Secretary of Homeland Security to grant extensions of status for religious workers who are the principal or derivative beneficiary of an immigrant petition under section 203(b)(4), provided they are eligible absent numerical limitations (Section 2).
-
Job Flexibility: The bill amends existing law to provide limited job flexibility for certain religious workers who have long-delayed applications for lawful permanent residence (Section 3).
-
Exemption from Residence Requirements: Certain religious workers who departed the United States due to the 5-year status limitation are exempted from the 1-year foreign residence requirement (Section 4).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- No negative impacts or burdens are explicitly stated in the provided text.
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Social Issues And Justice
- Improves Pathway To Citizenship+6Improves Religious Freedom+5
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Good For Immigrants+7
- 12/17/2025
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 6/17/2025
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 6/12/2025
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 5/21/2025
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 5/15/2025
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 4/3/2025
- Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
- 2 Cosponsors added.
- Introduced in Senate
One bill Congress.gov lists as related to this one — companions in the other chamber, earlier versions, and bills this one absorbed or was folded into.
Mike CrapoRepublican · Idaho
Susan CollinsRepublican · Maine
Christopher CoonsDemocrat · Delaware
Lindsey GrahamRepublican · South Carolina
Amy KlobucharDemocrat · Minnesota
Lisa MurkowskiRepublican · Alaska
James RischRepublican · Idaho