Senator Gregg Introduces Two Immigration Measures To Strengthen Nations's Competitive Advantage In Global Markets

Press Release

U.S. Senator Judd Gregg (R-NH) today introduced two bills aimed at addressing our nation's growing need for highly skilled workers and researchers, especially scientists, mathematicians and engineers with advanced training. A long-time champion of the H-1B visa program and opening doors to highly educated talent from around the world to further economic growth here in the U.S., Senator Gregg has proposed these balanced, forward-looking approaches to strengthen our nation's competitive advantage in the innovation industries and cutting-edge research.

"One of the main concerns I hear from businesses in New Hampshire and across the nation is a need for more highly skilled workers and that current law is stymieing their ability to hire the workers they desperately need," stated Sen. Gregg. "In today's competitive global markets, the U.S. must be looking for ways to stay ahead and these bills offer effective, common sense ways to do just that. Helping the high tech industry tap into highly skilled talent from around the world and address well-documented labor shortages not only keeps our economy strong, but creates U.S. jobs and deters employers from sending work elsewhere."

The H-1B Visa Program Modernization Act of 2007, introduced today as S. 1351, increases the statutory cap on H-1B visas to 150,000 a year and contains a market-adjustment provision that was included in the Senate-passed comprehensive immigration bill from last year. On April 2, 2007, the first day that the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services accepted H-1B visa applications for fiscal year 2008, the agency received around 140,000 petitions for only 65,000 slots. To help protect U.S. workers, the bill also addresses concerns about possible H-1B visa abuse and expands the Department of Labor's powers to detect fraudulent labor certification applications, investigate noncompliance by employers, levy higher penalties and educate H-1B visa holders about their rights.

Greg Corson, President of Global Technical Talent, Inc. in Portsmouth, stated, "I want to commend Senator Gregg for introducing the H-1B Visa Program Modernization Act of 2007. His balanced approach addresses a critical need for highly skilled IT professionals for my business and other businesses within New Hampshire. I want to thank Senator Gregg for his leadership role on this important issue."

The Advanced Degree Lottery Proposal, introduced today as S.1350, was successfully adopted to the comprehensive immigration bill last year as an amendment by Senators Gregg and Maria Cantwell (D-WA). It establishes a new advanced degree visa lottery program. The National Science Board and leaders in the high-tech industry have raised serious concerns about the declining number of citizens who are training to become scientists or engineers, especially at the master's and doctorate levels. This amendment reallocates two-thirds of the 50,000 visas currently issued each year under the diversity lottery program, a program that currently has minimal work/education requirements.

Sen. Gregg stated, "By leveraging existing visa programs to help tackle this issue, S. 1350 helping maintain our nation's preeminence in technology and the sciences. This bill encourages the immigration of talented, highly educated foreigners to meet the economic needs of our country by setting up a straightforward process for obtaining legal permanent resident status. This bill ensures that our lottery program not only assists those who are selected, but has significant positive ramifications for our nation as a whole."

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