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. |