Eric Thomas or Frances Cox 202/822-9491 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE March 14, 2008

Compete America Applauds Representatives Kennedy and McCaul
on Introduction of “New American Innovators Act”

Bipartisan Bill Would Allow U.S. Employers Greater Access to Foreign-born Ph.D. Recipients

Washington D.C. – Compete America today applauded the bipartisan introduction of the “New American Innovators Act” (H.R. 5634) by Representative Patrick Kennedy (D-RI) and Rep. Michael McCaul (R-TX).  The Kennedy/McCaul legislation would provide a streamlined path toward permanent residency for foreign-born Ph.D. graduates from U.S. colleges and universities.
“This legislation is an important incremental step towards breaking the gridlock in our green card system,” said Robert Hoffman, Vice President for Government and Public Affairs at Oracle and Co-Chair of Compete America.  “Today, foreign-born graduates of U.S. universities are all too often denied the ability to stay and work for U.S. companies.  Many who do get temporary work visas have to wait 5-10 years for a green card.  That’s unacceptable.  By allowing the very cream of the crop – those achieving doctorate degrees – to stay and contribute to our economy, the Kennedy/McCaul bill would move us toward a more rational policy that will help keep us the world’s innovation leader.”
Hoffman noted that the introduction of the Kennedy-McCaul bill was especially timely as we approach April 1st – the Fiscal Year 2009 application date for H-1B visas, which are reserved for highly educated foreign professionals.   It is widely predicted that the annual cap on H-1B visas will be exhausted on the very first day applications are accepted – forcing U.S. employers and foreign graduates into a government run lottery to determine winners.

“A talent lottery is no way to run a business – nor is it any way for the government to compete for talent in the competitive global economy,” Hoffman continued.  “Foreign-born scientists, doctors, educators, engineers and entrepreneurs have made tremendous contributions to America’s scientific and economic preeminence, whether by teaching at U.S. universities, doing research at U.S. labs or devising next generation products at U.S. companies.  We should be rolling out a red carpet, not shutting the door.  The Kennedy-McCaul bill is a step in the right direction.”

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.

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