Just ahead of the August recess Thursday, the U.S. Senate passed a $600 million border security bill introduced by Senators Chuck Schumer (D- NY) and Claire McCaskill (D- MO). The bill, according to McCaskill’s press office, will “raise fees on a handful of foreign corporations that exploit U.S. visa programs to import workers from abroad.”

“What a relief that the Senate is still capable of passing measures that are really needed without playing political games,” McCaskill said in a statement.  “America must do a better job of securing our borders. This bill will help in a big way.”

The bill targeted foreign companies in general, but specifically named those based out of India: Wipro, Tata, Infosys, and Satyam; and said they exploit H-1B and L visas to import foreign workers into the United States.

The bill aims to raise the fees on H-1B visas (for temporary skilled workers) for non-U.S. companies who have more than 50 percent of their employees retain those very visas, and would raise fees on L visas (given to multinational transferees) for foreign companies. Fees for these visas would rise by approximately $2,000 per application.

Today, Som Mittal, President of NASSCOM, a nonprofit group which represents Indian offshore trade development, issued a statement which said the bill is unjustly punitive to foreign companies.