The U.S. House of Representatives on Friday (Nov. 30) voted to approve the STEM Jobs Act, which “eliminates the Diversity Visa program in order to create a new visa program for foreign students graduating with advanced degrees in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) from U.S. research universities.”

That’s according to a press release from Rep. Colleen Hanabusa, who along with Rep. Mazie Hirono voted “no” on the measure. It passed 245-139, largely along partisan lines.

According to this report from the Associated Press, the bill will “make green cards accessible to foreign students graduating with advanced science and math degrees from U.S. universities. But even this limited step, strongly backed by the high-tech industry and enjoying some bipartisan support, is unlikely to go anywhere this session of Congress, dramatizing how difficult it will be to find lasting solutions to the nation’s much-maligned immigration system.”

In a statement, Hanabusa said, “While I support a visa program targeted at students excelling in STEM programs, we should not eliminate the Diversity Visa program, which ensures people from countries that have low rates of immigration to the U.S. have the same opportunity to pursue their dreams here.”

The STEM Jobs Act now heads to the U.S. Senate.

—Chad Blair