NEWS CONTACTS: Eric Thomas or Frances Cox (202) 822-9491 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE January 31, 2006

Compete America Hails President's American Competitiveness Initiative

Washington, D.C. - Compete America applauded President Bush's call for policies to improve America's global competitiveness as outlined in tonight's State of the Union Address.

Included in the details of the American Competitiveness Initiative is the call to reform immigration laws to enable the United States to attract and retain skilled workers.

"President Bush understands that continued American economic leadership is not a birthright. We must do everything we can to keep our workforce competitive. This includes a commitment to better math and science education, new worker training programs and improved access to highly educated foreign workers," said Sandra Boyd, National Association of Manufacturers Human Resources Policy Vice President and Compete America Chair.

Compete America believes it is fundamental to the United States' economic interest to provide world-class education and job training, and to have a secure and efficient immigration system that welcomes highly-educated and skilled professionals to the United States.

"Highly educated foreign nationals have a long history of contributing to America's economic success. American immigration policy must reflect this fact. We urge Congress to enact much-needed reforms to both the H-1B visa and green card programs to help U.S. employers maintain their ability to lead the world in innovation and create jobs in America," Boyd continued.

H-1B visas allow employers to have access to highly educated foreign professionals who have unique experience in specialized areas and who have at least a bachelor's degree or the equivalent. Many of these foreign nationals are employed in scientific research, medicine, technology and education. Under current law the program is capped at 65,000, with an added exemption for 20,000 foreign nationals earning advanced degrees from U.S. universities.

The green card process is plagued by extensive administrative delays that hold tens of thousands of highly educated applicants in legal and professional limbo for years.

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.

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