S. 1877: Startup Act

115th Congress · introduced 2017-09-27 · Economics and Public Finance · Latest: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.

federal

Follow this bill, step by step

Where it came from: introduced 2017-09-27 · official record
Who proposed it: Sen. Moran, Jerry [R-KS] · what a sponsor is
What happened next: no floor votes in our records yet. Why?
Where it stands now: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. Not final yet: this can still change. We check for updates every day.
If it becomes law and spends money: follow the money to money laws, then agencies and contracts and grants.

What does this mean?

Official title

Startup Act

Plain summary

Startup Act This bill amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to authorize the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to adjust to conditional permanent resident status up to 50,000 aliens who have earned a master's or doctorate degree in a science, technology, engineering, or mathematics (STEM) field and permit such an alien to remain in the United States: (1) for up to one year after the expiration of the alien's student visa if the alien is searching for STEM field employment, and (2) indefinitely if the alien remains actively engaged in a STEM field. DHS may issue conditional immigrant visas to up to 75,000 qualified alien entrepreneurs. The per-country numerical limitation for employment-based visas is removed, and the limitation for family-based immigrants is increased. The Department of Commerce shall: (1) award grants to institutions of higher education to improve the commercialization and transfer of technology, (2) compile information on state laws that affect new business growth, and (3) compile information on new business formation. The Chinese Student Protection Act of 1992 is amended to eliminate the status adjustment reduction of annual Chinese immigrant visas. The Stevenson-Wydler Technology Innovation Act of 1980 is amended to revise the regional innovation program. A federal or independent regulatory agency, before issuing a notice of rulemaking in connection with the issuance of a significant rule (generally, a rule that is likely to have an annual effect on the economy of $100 million or more), shall complete: (1) a review that analyzes the problem that the rule intends to address and its expected impact on state, local, and tribal governments and new businesses; and (2) a cost-benefit analysis.

Congressional Research Service summary (Introduced in Senate), quoted unchanged (nonpartisan). Read the source.

What a vote does

A “Yea” vote

If it passes both chambers and is signed, it becomes law.

A “Nay” vote

If it is not passed, current law stays as it is.

PSI Sci description of the legislative step (not an opinion).

What does this mean? (plain words)

Official text

Startup Act

Source: Congressional Research Service summary (Introduced in Senate)

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The strongest published arguments

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Alternatives

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How did my representative vote? · This bill's floor votes

Officials and money

Sponsor: Sen. Moran, Jerry [R-KS] · 3 cosponsors

Cost estimate: No cost estimate published yet.

Cosponsors on this site

Mark R. Warner (D-VA), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN)

Sponsor's campaign money: Sen. Moran, Jerry [R-KS] reported raising $1.6 million (2025–2026). Details. Shown for context only; it does not mean any donor supported this bill.

No linked floor roll calls in our collected records yet. This does not mean the bill has never had a vote. Check the official bill history.

Words on this page, explained (4)

Authorization: A law that creates or continues a government program and says what it may do, often with a suggested spending ceiling. An authorization alone does not provide money; a separate appropriation does.
Bill: A proposed law. It becomes law only if it passes the legislature and is signed by the president or governor (or a veto is overridden).
Rulemaking: The process agencies use to write regulations that carry out laws passed by Congress or a legislature. Usually an agency publishes a proposed rule, takes public comments, then publishes a final rule.
Securities: Financial investments that can be bought and sold, such as stocks and bonds.

Plain meanings written from linked sources. All words.

Sources

Congressional Research Service summary (Introduced in Senate)
Congress.gov
Data: GovInfo BILLSTATUS bulk data (Library of Congress), BILLSTATUS-115s1877.xml <https://www.govinfo.gov/bulkdata/BILLSTATUS/115/s>

Record fed-us-cong115-s1877 · catalog fed-us-congress-bills-cong115 · updated 2026-11-15 by psicol fed-bills-cong115