|
|
Labrador introduces STEM jobs bill
|
|
September 18, 2012 |
Idaho First District Congressman Raúl Labrador
has introduced the STEM Jobs Act in conjunction
with House Judiciary Committee Chairman Lamar
Smith, Texas, and Representative Bob Goodlatte,
Virginia.
The legislation eliminates layers of bureaucracy
in the visa process so that legal foreign
students with advanced degrees from American
universities in the science, technology,
engineering and mathematics (STEM) fields can
accelerate their transition into the American
workforce when offered jobs from U.S. employers
in high-tech fields.
The STEM Jobs Act eliminates the current
diversity visa lottery program, which grants
55,000 visas at random, and makes those visas
available to STEM graduates. The overall number
of visas allocated will not be increased.
“The future of our economy is in the STEM
fields,” Labrador said. “New printers from
Hewlett Packard, new semiconductors from Micron
and new phones from Apple all rely on retaining
the world’s best and brightest students and
harnessing their ingenuity to create jobs here
in America. Even in an economic downturn, there
aren’t enough U.S.-born graduates to meet the
needs of high-tech employers. Right now
foreign-born students are benefitting from our
education system and then going home to compete
with us. This legislation allows us to retain
their skills and innovation. According to the
American Enterprise Institute, every immigrant
with an advanced STEM degree creates two to
three new American jobs. We are replacing a
broken, inefficient visa program with one that
works, rewards innovation, and means jobs for
our economy.”
House Majority Floor Leader Eric Cantor (VA-07)
praised Labrador’s work on the STEM Jobs Act.
“Congressman Labrador has been instrumental in
crafting this vital piece of legislation that
will keep the best and brightest from around the
world in the United States, and create jobs,”
Cantor said. “America has always been a country
where anyone from anywhere has a fair shot at
earning success, and the STEM bill is part of
that commitment to remove barriers, build a
first-class workforce and make sure that the
U.S. continues to compete in the global
marketplace. This has long been a priority of
ours, and I’m thrilled we’re taking action on it
this week.”
The STEM Act solves a problem both parties have
addressed. President Obama and Republican
candidate for president Mitt Romney have both
spoken of the need to reform high-tech
immigration. A letter signed by more than 150
university leaders from all 50 states and sent
to congressional leaders and the White House
details support for visa reform and the need to
retain high-tech graduates with advanced
degrees. Boise State University President Robert
Kustra is one of the signatories.
“The STEM Jobs Act makes our immigration system
smarter by allowing the United States to retain
the most talented foreign graduates of American
universities in STEM fields,” Chairman Smith
said. “These graduates have the ability to boost
our economic growth and spur job creation for
American workers and I thank Congressman
Labrador for his work and invaluable support of
this bill.”
The STEM Jobs Act builds on Labrador’s American
Innovation and Education Act, introduced in
October 2011.
|
|
Questions or comments about this
article?
Click here to e-mail! |
|
|
|
|
