Alaska House Unanimously Pleads for Teacher Visa Fee Waiver

0:00Alaska's House of Representatives unanimously passed a resolution calling on the Trump administration to waive a massive new visa fee for international teachers. The measure passed 38-0 on Friday amid a statewide teacher shortage that's hitting schools hard. The fee for H1B visas, which bring in skilled workers like educators, skyrocketed from $5,000 to $100,000 per. Applicant back in September, lawmakers say this price tag is pricing out school districts desperate for help. Representatives from rural and urban areas alike voiced strong support, noting that international hires feel key roles everywhere from remote villages. To Anchorage, one recruitment expert called the unanimous vote, thrilling, as districts hire now for fall but face roadblocks. Nearly 600 teachers currently work in Alaska under these five year visas, yet the state's job board list over 700 openings. Special education, math, science and other specialized spots, top the list, despite job

1:03fares pulling in candidates from across the U.S. and abroad. The resolution now moves to the Senate for its expected approval, backing federal efforts where Alaska's U.S. Senators are co-sponsoring a bill to scrap. The fee for public school employees. This unified front underscores the urgency of keeping qualified teachers in classroom statewide. This has been Anchorage News Today, powered by AI.