Letter of Support for HR 8013
Neil Bradley
Executive Vice President, Chief Policy Officer, and Head of Strategic Advocacy, U.S. Chamber of Commerce
Published
April 24, 2026
April 24, 2026
The Honorable Sam Liccardo
U.S. House of Representatives
Washington, DC 20515
The Honorable Jay Obernolte
U.S. House of Representatives
Washington, DC 20515
The Honorable Raja Krishnamoorthi
U.S. House of Representatives
Washington, DC 20515
Re: Keep Innovators in America Act (H.R. 8013)
Dear Representatives Liccardo, Obernolte, and Krishnamoorthi:
Thank you for introducing H.R. 8013, the Keep Innovators in America Act, and for your leadership in strengthening U.S. competitiveness. Optional Practical Training (OPT) is a critical link in the talent pipeline relied upon by our member companies, particularly in STEM-intensive industries including the artificial intelligence, engineering, and biomedical fields.
More than half of all international students in the United States pursue STEM degrees, and nearly 70% of international STEM graduates participate in OPT. This pathway allows employers to connect U.S.-based education and training to practical application in the workplace, supporting cutting-edge research and development at a time of persistent talent shortages. From both the business and national security perspectives, OPT ensures that skills developed at U.S. universities are applied to strengthening our nation’s economy, rather than benefiting foreign competitors such as China that actively seek U.S.-trained technical and scientific talent.
We appreciate your leadership in advancing legislation that reinforces a pragmatic, time-limited talent pipeline essential to America’s economic and technological leadership.
Sincerely,
Neil L. Bradley
Executive Vice President, Chief Policy Officer, and Head of Strategic Advocacy
U.S. Chamber of Commerce
Letter of Support for HR 8013
About the author
Neil Bradley
Neil Bradley is executive vice president, chief policy officer, and head of strategic advocacy at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. He has spent two decades working directly with congressional committee chairpersons and other high-ranking policymakers to achieve solutions.
