NEWS CONTACTS: Eric Thomas or Frances Cox (202) 822-9491 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE February 6, 2006

Compete America Calls PACE Act an Important Step

Calls for More Comprehensive Legislation to Remedy Legal Immigration Crisis

Washington, D.C. - Compete America today called the “PACE Act” an important step towards improving America’s global competitiveness. PACE (Protecting America’s Competitive Edge) is made up of three bills designed to help America maintain its competitive edge in science and technology. The Act implements 20 recommendations contained in a recent report by the National Academy of Science titled “Rising Above the Gathering Storm.”

 “Introduction of both the PACE Act and the President’s American Competitiveness Initiative illustrate the growing recognition that America must do a better job if we are to retain our role as the world’s economic and innovation leader,” said Sandra Boyd, National Association of Manufacturers Human Resources Policy Vice President and Compete America Chair.  “Both these initiatives address the three keys to competitiveness – funding basic research, improving math and science education, and access to the world’s brightest minds.”

Among its provisions, the PACE Act would create a new “F-4” student visa for doctoral candidates studying in the fields of mathematics, engineering, technology and the physical sciences. 

“We are particularly pleased to see that provisions have been included to encourage foreign doctoral students graduating from U.S. universities to stay in the United States,” she continued.  “These students are among the brightest minds in the world, and it is in our best interests to employ them in the United States.”

Compete America also applauded PACE provisions that would streamline the green card process for foreign workers already in the United States on temporary visas if they have an advanced degree in science, technology, engineering or mathematics.

“The PACE Act’s immigration provisions, taken alone, are not enough to meet the growing needs of U.S. employers for highly educated workers, but this legislation represents a significant step in the right direction,” Boyd continued. “We are gratified that there is a strong awareness of the importance of legal immigration reform on Capitol Hill and at the highest levels of the Administration.  We look forward to successfully pursuing a permanent remedy to the crisis facing U.S. employers and highly educated immigrants in 2006.”

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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