WHEREAS, we applaud the Abbott administration for restricting public institutions of higher education and other state agencies with a gubernatorially appointed head to stop from hiring H-1Bs without special permission from the Texas Workforce Commission [1]; and
WHEREAS, the reasoning in this directive that “The economy of Texas should work for the benefit of Texas workers and Texas employers” [1] is commendable insomuch as the intent of this phrase is unaltered if “Texas workers” were to be interchanged with “working Texans”; and
WHEREAS, “working Texans” implies a belonging to the state of Texas and the Texan people, but “Texas workers” could be construed to merely mean a person who works in Texas without any further qualifications; and
WHEREAS, the current directive is set to expire on May 31st, 2027, at the end of Texas’s 90th legislative session, to allow time for Texas legislators to “...establish statutory guardrails for future employment practices regarding federal visa holders in state government…” [1]; and
WHEREAS, it is sensible to extend this restriction indefinitely until statutory guardrails can be established so that the hiring of federal visa holders does not harm the job prospects of Texans; and
WHEREAS, even if the abuse of the H-1B visa program in public institutions of higher education and other state agencies with a gubernatorially appointed head were eliminated within the appointed timeframe, private businesses or other organizations that don’t fall into this classification [2] may receive state funding or financial incentives and engage in the hiring of H-1Bs; and
WHEREAS, without also eliminating H-1B abuse in private businesses or other organizations, the purpose of the restriction on hiring H-1Bs is only partially fulfilled.
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Young Republicans of Texas call for an indefinite extension of governor Abbott’s restriction on hiring H-1Bs since there is no reason to end the extension if the problem is unresolved; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Young Republicans of Texas call for a simultaneous expansion of governor Abbott’s restriction on hiring H-1Bs to include any entity that receives state funding or financial incentives in order to help further eliminate H-1B abuse in the state of Texas.
Bibliography
“January 27 , 2026 Dear Agency Heads”, Texas Office of the Governor, January 27th, 2026, https://gov.texas.gov/uploads/files/press/H-1B_Visa_Program_Letter_1.27.2026_State_Agency_Heads_FINAL_.pdf
“Announced TSIF Public Listing”, Texas Office of the Governor, August 25th, 2026, https://gov.texas.gov/uploads/files/business/Announced_TSIF_Public_Listing.pdf