Nation's Top Scientists Endorse the Dignity Act

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, the GROW Coalition, representing the nation's leading scientific, engineering, research, and technology organizations, announced its support for the DIGNITY Act, warning that America's broken immigration system is making it harder to retain the very scientists, engineers, and innovators needed to keep the United States at the forefront of global innovation.

The endorsement comes as the United States faces growing global competition in the industries that will define the 21st-century economy. While American universities continue to educate many of the world's brightest scientists, engineers, and researchers, outdated immigration laws often force highly skilled graduates to take their talents elsewhere. Scientific leaders across academia and industry have increasingly warned that America's ability to innovate and remain the world's leading economic and technological power depends on attracting, educating, and retaining the best talent on Earth.

"America is already educating some of the brightest scientists, engineers, and innovators in the world. The question is whether we are smart enough to keep them," said Rep. Salazar. "As China and other global rivals race to dominate the technologies that will define the future, we cannot afford to train the world's best minds only to send them elsewhere. If America wants to remain the global leader in innovation, we need an immigration system that helps us win the race for talent. The DIGNITY Act will help ensure that the next generation of breakthroughs is developed here in the United States, strengthening our economy, our national security, and our technological leadership for decades to come."

America's ability to innovate depends on its ability to attract, develop, and retain top STEM talent. The Dignity Act advances that goal through practical reforms that support scientific excellence, economic growth, and U.S. competitiveness. SPIE is pleased to endorse this important legislation," said Kent Rochford, CEO, SPIE, the international society for optics and photonics.

"IEEE-USA endorses Rep. Salazar's Dignity Act because it creates a realistic and reliable path for international students who earn an American degree in a STEM field to become Americans in a reasonable amount of time. This is a win for the students and also for America," said Barry Tilton, 2026 IEEE-USA President.

"The global race for leadership in quantum technology depends on talent. America's ability to innovate and compete requires policies that attract and retain exceptional scientists, engineers, and researchers from around the world. The Dignity Act includes important reforms that will help strengthen the nation's STEM workforce and accelerate breakthroughs in critical technologies. TOPTICA Photonics is pleased to endorse this

bipartisan effort to support innovation, economic growth, and U.S. technological leadership," said Mark A. Tolbert, CEO, TOPTICA-USA.

The GROW Coalition brings together leading scientific, engineering, research, and technology organizations representing scientists, engineers, mathematicians, physicists, chemists, researchers, professors, technicians, and innovators across the United States.

GROW Coalition Members include:

• American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)

• American Chemical Society

• American Mathematical Society

• American Physical Society

• American Society for Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics

• Association of American Universities

• Cornell University

• Federation of American Scientists

• IEEE-USA

• Laser Institute of America

• Quartus Engineering

• SPIE, the International Society for Optics and Photonics

• TOPTICA Photonics

The DIGNITY Act includes reforms designed to strengthen America's STEM workforce by allowing individuals who earn doctoral degrees in STEM and medical fields from American universities to remain in the United States and continue contributing their expertise here. The legislation also reduces employment-based immigration backlogs that make it harder for employers to fill critical workforce needs, helping businesses, universities, and research institutions retain the scientists, engineers, researchers, physicians, and innovators needed to drive discovery, support innovation, and strengthen America's economic competitiveness.

America's leadership in science and technology has long depended on attracting talent from around the world. Today, foreign-born workers account for roughly 22 percent of the nation's STEM workforce, while international students earn a majority of doctoral degrees in key fields such as engineering, mathematics, and computer science. International students contributed $43.8 billion to the U.S. economy and supported more than 378,000 American jobs during the 2023-2024 academic year. Yet many highly skilled graduates educated at American universities face years-long visa backlogs and legal uncertainty, often forcing them to take their talents and innovations to competing countries.

The DIGNITY Act was previously endorsed by the U.S. for Success Coalition and the President's Alliance on Higher Education. This latest endorsement further expands the bill's support among organizations at the forefront of scientific research, technological innovation, and higher education.

A NATIONAL MOVEMENT FOR REFORM

Support for the Dignity Act continues to accelerate, bringing together lawmakers, employers, workers, faith leaders, and community advocates behind one of the most broadly supported bipartisan immigration reform efforts in Congress. The legislation is now backed by 40 Members of Congress and nearly 100 national organizations representing major sectors of the American economy and civil society.

Recent milestones include:

✓ Launch of the Housing Affordability DIGNITY Tour

Watch here

✓ Bipartisan Problem Solvers Caucus Endorsement

Read here
✓ National Association of Manufacturers Endorsement

Read here

✓ National Restaurant Association Endorsement

Read here

✓ Launch of the Dignity Coalition

Watch here

The growing list of endorsing organizations includes:

A-1 Global Holdings, African American Farmers of California, AIRC: The Association of International Enrollment Management, American Bakers Association, American Business Immigration Council (ABIC), American Families United, American Global Logistics, American Latino Coalition, American Legion, Americans for Prosperity, American Seniors Housing Association, Anti-Defamation League, Arlington Latino Chamber of Commerce, Asian American Christian Collaborative, Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM), Associated Equipment Distributors, Associated General Contractors (AGC) of America, Bethel Consulting Group LLC, Brick Industry Association, Business Roundtable, Center for American Progress, Christian Family Coalition of Florida, Cleaning Coalition of America, Council for Christian Colleges & Universities, Critical Labor Coalition, Democrats for Life of America, EnglishUSA, Essential Workers Immigration Coalition (EWIC), Evangelical Immigration Table, Foundation for Research on Equal Opportunity (FREOPP), FWD.us, Global Detroit, Greater Houston Partnership, GROW our STEM Workforce Coalition, Hispanic Construction Council, IEEE-USA (Institute of Electrical Electronics Engineers), IIUSA, ISSA (Association for Cleaning and Facility Solutions), Improve the Dream, Jewish Federation of North America, Latin Chamber of Commerce Nevada, Laredo Chamber of Commerce, LeadingAge, LIBRE Initiative, Mason Contractors Association of America (MCAA), Migrants Foundation Inc, MIRA USA, Nashville Area Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, National Association of Evangelicals, National Association of Home Builders, National Association of Landscape Professionals, National Association of Manufacturers, National Association of Wholesaler-Distributors (NAW), National Council of Chain Restaurants, National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference (NHCLC), National Hispanic Construction Alliance, National Hispanic Health Foundation, National Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association, National Immigration Forum, National Latino Evangelical Coalition, National Parents Union, National Restaurant Association, National Retail Federation, National Roofing Contractors Association, Nisei Farmers League, Niskanen Center, Pastors Association of south New Jersey, Power & Communication Contractors Association (PCCA), Power Design, Precast/Prestressed Concrete Institute, President's Alliance on Higher Education and Immigration, Problem Solvers Caucus, Public Affairs Alliance of Iranian Americans (PAAIA), Puerto Rico Builders Association (PRBA), Reshoring Initiative, Repatriate our Patriots, Secure Growth Initiative, SIMBA Chain, Small Business Majority, South Florida Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, SPIE - the International Society for Optics and Photonics, State Business Executives, Steel Tank Institute-Steel Plate Fabricators Association (STI-SPFA), Structural Building Components Association, TESOL International Association, Texas Business Leadership Council, Texas Restaurant Association, Tile Roofing Industry Alliance (TRIA), Third Way, U.S. Chamber of Commerce, U.S. for Success Coalition, United States Hispanic Business Council, United States Immigrant Center (USIC), Vanteo, Walroth-Sadurní Law, WERC, Why Not Act, Woodpack Global, World Relief.

RESOURCES:

One-pager on the Dignity Act, click here.

Detailed summary of the Dignity Act, click here. 

Section-by-section breakdown of the Dignity Act, click here. 

For the media kit, click here.

Fact sheet on the Dignity Act, click here..

Full text of the bill, click here.