NEWS CONTACTS: Susan Mora (202) 822-9491 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE May 5, 2004

U.S. Employers to Have Limited Access to ’04 Advanced Degree Grads

Diverse Group of Companies and Associations Call on Congress to Address Need for H-1B Exemption for Masters and PhD Degree Recipients

Washington, D.C. - Citing growing international competition for the brightest minds available, Compete America today called on Congress to support legislation to exempt foreign nationals that have received Masters and PhDs from U.S. universities from current H-1B visa caps. The letter to all Members of Congress was signed by 94 companies and major trade associations.

Noting that in the physical sciences and engineering, nearly 50 percent of all Masters and PhD degrees awarded by U.S. schools are earned by foreign nationals, the Compete America letter stated:

American employers face difficult challenges in getting the right talent for key professional positions. One of these involves the significant number of foreign nationals earning advanced degrees in key disciplines at U.S. universities. The reality is that employers often have little choice but to hire American-educated foreign nationals either as new college hires through on-campus recruiting efforts or later in lateral moves as more experienced professionals. The data on H-1B visa holders confirms these market realities.

To compete and win in a worldwide market, American employers must have access to the talent they need. The ability to fill highly specialized positions is critical to creating new jobs in the United States, generating economic growth and ensuring the nation’s technological leadership. Although the vast majority of new or vacant positions are being filled with American citizens, a very small portion of these positions are offered to foreign nationals who have specialized skills that are critical to a particular company, medical facility, research institution, or educational institution. We urge you to support legislation that would help us keep talent in America by exempting Masters and PhD graduates of U.S. universities from the H-1B cap.

The problem is real, it’s having an impact now, and we need to address it quickly, said Sandy Boyd, National Association of Manufacturers Human Resources Policy Vice President and Compete America Chair. America’s long term competitiveness is at stake. Until the time comes when the U.S. education system is producing more students with advanced degrees in critical disciplines, we must continue to supplement our workforce with some of the brightest minds from around the world, especially those who are educated at our own universities. It makes no sense to send these graduates home to compete against us. The H-1B visa is a necessary vehicle to meet immediate needs.

A copy of the letter is available at www.competeamerica.org.

Compete America is a coalition of over 200 corporations, universities, research institutions and trade associations concerned about legal, employment-based immigration and committed to ensuring that the United States has the capacity to acquire the talent necessary for continued innovation and expansion in a worldwide economy. For further information, go to www.competeamerica.org.

###