The main purpose of this legislation, known as the PROTECT Act of 2026, is to reform the H-1B nonimmigrant visa program, which allows U.S. employers to hire foreign workers in specialty occupations. The act aims to ensure that American workers are prioritized for jobs, while still allowing for the hiring of foreign talent in critical sectors, particularly in healthcare. Key provisions of the act include several important changes to the existing H-1B visa process. First, it establishes a new wage requirement, mandating that employers pay H-1B workers at least the highest wage paid to a U.S.