Eric Thomas or Frances Cox 202-822-9491 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE April 13, 2007

Compete America Praises Senator Hagel for Quick Action to Address H-1B Visa Crisis

Washington, D.C. – Compete America today issued the following statement regarding “The High Tech Worker Relief Act” (S. 1092) as introduced by Senator Chuck Hagel (R-NE).

“By making more H-1B visas available in fiscal years 2007 and 2008 and exempting U.S. advanced degree holders from the cap moving forward, Senator Hagel clearly understands the crisis facing U.S. employers of highly educated foreign-born talent.  This crisis was typified in the unprecedented announcement last week by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) that the FY 2008 allotment of H-1B visas was met on the very first day applications were accepted. 

“Without congressional action, U.S. employers face an 18-month ‘blackout period’ before an H-1B worker can be hired in FY 2009.  Senator Hagel should be commended for addressing this problem and responding so quickly to a crisis that affects U.S. competitiveness and economic growth.

“In addition to raising the number of H-1B visas, the bill would exempt certain highly educated workers and their spouses and minor children from the employment-based (EB) green card cap.  This move would help relieve the backlogs that plague the permanent visa system and prevent U.S. employers from keeping foreign talent innovating here in the United States rather than forcing them back overseas where they contribute to our competitors.

“While the bill only addresses certain problems in the H-1B visa and EB green card systems, its introduction moves the debate forward and underscores the need for decisive action this year on fixing permanently two programs that are critical to U.S. innovation leadership.” 

For more information on how highly educated immigration benefits America, please visit www.competeamerica.org. 

Compete America (www.competeamerica.org) is a coalition of corporations, educators, research institutions and trade associations concerned about legal, employment-based immigration and committed to ensuring that the United States has the highly educated workforce necessary to ensure continued innovation, job creation and leadership in a worldwide economy.