NEWS CONTACTS: Eric Thomas (202) 822-9491 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE November 10, 2004

Business and Academic Leaders Urge Congressional Action to Remedy H-1B Visa Crisis

Washington, D.C. – Leaders of American business and academia today urged Congress to take immediate action to end the ban on hiring of highly educated foreign professionals with advanced degrees from U.S. universities.  In a letter to all Members of Congress, the leaders cited the October 1^st announcement that the annual cap on H-1B visas had been exhausted on the first day of the new fiscal year as evidence that the system needs an immediate remedy.  The letter was distributed by Compete America.

Hitting the H-1B cap on the first day of the year creates a critical problem for U.S. competitiveness.  H-1B professionals make a significant contribution to our economy, yet current visa limits prevent the United States from benefiting from their talents even if they have been educated in this country,” said Sandra Boyd, National Association of Manufacturers Human Resources Policy Vice President and Compete America Chair. “This issue cuts across all segments of our economy, including healthcare, education, research and engineering.  By exempting foreign students receiving advanced degrees from U.S. universities from the H-1B cap, Congress can affect an immediate remedy to a critical problem.”

In the letter, the business and academic leaders stated:

While our economy has become more dependent on medical, scientific and engineering talent, fewer U.S. students are pursuing advanced degrees in these fields.  The shortfall has been made up in large part by foreign nationals, many of whom are now actively involved in advanced research in universities and laboratories across the country.  It is imperative that U.S. industries, universities, hospitals and research facilities have access to these highly qualified individuals.  And it is counterproductive to force these individuals, most of whom have multiple job offers, to return home or to work for our overseas competitors.

There is widespread consensus among America’s business, academic and scientific communities that the United States benefits greatly by welcoming highly educated professionals from throughout the world,” said Boyd.  “The H-1B system is broken and there are no visa alternatives.  The system does not accommodate the realities of the structural and demographic changes occurring in the workforce and in graduate education.  Congress needs to fix it this year to avoid a crisis.”

A copy of the letter to Congress is available at www.competeamerica.org.

Compete America (www.competeamerica.org) is a coalition of more than 200 corporations, universities, 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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