NEWS CONTACTS: Eric Thomas (202) 822-9491 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE April 21, 2005

Compete America Applauds Senate Green Card Vote

Amendment Would "Recapture" Visas Left Unused Because of Processing Delays

Washington, D.C. – Compete America applauded a measure that would allow for the processing of over 141,000 additional green cards previously left unused due to administrative delays. The measure was approved today by the U.S. Senate as an amendment to the 2005 Iraq Supplemental Spending Bill.

From 2001 to 2004, 141,365 employment-based third (EB-3) preference category visas were left unused - despite significant demand - due to processing delays at the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. The Senate-approved measure would make these numbers available again, with 50 percent reserved for nursing professionals.

"The green card program is vital in helping meet the country's workforce needs and attracting and keeping talent - for which there is fierce global competition," said Sandra Boyd, National Association of Manufacturers Human Resources Policy Vice President and Compete America Chair. "It is counterproductive for the government to allot the green cards, but not to process them. This amendment is necessary to alleviate current backlogs."

The Senate amendment was sponsored by Senators Hutchinson (R-TX), Schumer (D-NY) and Kennedy (D-MA) and passed by voice vote. It will now be considered by House and Senate conferees.

"Employment-based immigrants and their families account for only a small percentage of immigrants to the United States, yet the demand for green cards is great and will continue to exceed their availability. These immigrants are well-educated, job creators who must pass strict labor market tests in order to qualify for entry," said Lynn Shotwell, Executive Director of the American Council on International Personnel. "We urge the House and Senate conferees to recognize the importance of this issue, and to include it in the final legislation."

Compete America 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.

###