Posted on 01/20/2015 4:24:14 PM PST by Extremely Extreme Extremist
Offers amendment to increase H-1B visas to help improve, retain high-skilled labor force
WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX) today presented an amendment to the Gang of Eight immigration bill that would improve our nation’s legal immigration system by increasing high-skilled temporary worker visas, called H-1B visas, by 500 percent. The measure would effectively address the needs of our nation’s high-skilled workforce by helping meet the growing demand for workers in the science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields. It will also make block grants available to states to promote STEM education efforts and increase domestic STEM professionals. The committee voted against the amendment 4 to 14 with every Democrat voting against it on a party-line vote.
Legal immigration is a fundamental pillar of our nation's heritage, and I was pleased today to offer legislation that would have improved and expanded legal immigration by dramatically increasing the cap for high-tech temporary worker visas. This amendment would not only improve the current system, but would also encourage economic growth and create new jobs in America. There is currently a serious shortage of workers in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and math, yet every year we send thousands of high-tech graduate students back to their home countries to start businesses and create jobs. This makes no sense. I’m disappointed in the committee’s vote to reject expanding high-tech immigration. Although the Gang of Eight's bill makes a modest step towards improving high-tech immigration, it does not go nearly far enough. There is no reason to arbitrarily cap high-tech visas at 110,000 when these jobs are going unfilled. We need economic growth here and now.”
Sen. Cruz’s amendment would:
Immediately increase the H-1B cap by 500 percent from 65,000 to 325,000.
• To truly fix our broken immigration system and take into account our nation’s economic needs, we must put more emphasis on increasing employment-based immigration. (EEE's comments in red - No mention of reducing the size, scope, and power of Fedzilla, which would unleash jobs on its own). There is a current shortage of qualified high-skilled workers in the U.S., with an estimated 230,000 advanced-degree STEM jobs going unfilled by 2018. Shortage caused by the feds sticking their grimy paws in the economy and picking winners and losers.
• Additionally, more H-1B workers mean more jobs for American workers – according to a study by the American Enterprise Institute, for every additional 100 H-1B workers, 183 jobs are created for U.S. citizens. How? What was this study based on and who funded it?
Help retain the high-skilled workers that are trained in the U.S. by allowing “dual intent.” What exactly is this?
• This would allow foreign students at U.S. colleges and universities to enter the U.S. on a temporary H-1B visa if they intend to get a Green Card once they complete their studies. This is Roman-style suicide for any nation
• Currently, about 300,000 students come to America annually to be educated, but are required to return home upon completing their education. Why can't they get edumacated in their own crapholes and improve their country's way of life?
Create block grants for states to promote STEM education in their public schools by raising H-1B fees. More borrowing and spending that we can't afford. I thought Cruz was a fiscal conservative?
• These block grants will encourage educating our children in these high demand fields, opening more doors of opportunity to future generations. According to the Joint Economic Committee, between 2010 and 2020, demand for STEM graduates is expected to grow by 17 percent, while employment for those graduates will increase only 14 percent, partly because American graduates are not available or qualified to fill these jobs.
• The block grant program would be funded by raising H-1B fees from $750 to $1,250 for businesses with fewer than 25 employees, and from $1,500 to $2,500 for those with 25 or more employees.
Another blow to the middle class.
How very disappointing. I guess we know who will be funding the Senator’s 2016 campaign.
This is Cruz's own press release in May of 2013, his very own words.
So the whole time we’ve been complaining about illegal immigration, it’s really been legal immigration that we should be worried about?
I think she was a 2 year governor, but then went back for a bit, didn’t she? Didn’t she serve 3 years?
Cruz was class of 2012, so he’s at the 2 year mark now with the election next year. So it would be about the same, unless he were to not make it through the primary season or were to lose.
I suppose he’d remain the Texas senator.
I do get your point. I think Palin was unjustly attacked over her resignation. She didn’t have much money then.
I don't have a problem with LEGAL immigration, as long as there are restrictions and absolutely no benefits or accommodations to those who come here.
Prior to 1965, we had a quota system, and it worked great. We didn't allow immigrations from the Middle East or Latin America because they could not assimilate as Western Europeans can. The system worked great, until Kennedy and the Left F'd it up.
So you’re saying all the major points in the conservative argument against the immigration problem have been wrong all this time?
We need to start protesting legal immigration instead?
No this is back door lobbying of the highest order! This should not even be discussed as an option. Call it what you will...off shore...out source etc. But what is an undeniable FACT is the person to be hired is NOT an American IT professional filling a job. It is the importation of cheap labor legal or otherwise. I refuse to continue climbing into the bed of the greed I see in large companies and this was a lobby job no doubt.
But it is about LEGAL immigration.
I don’t agree with adding H1B visas, but at least he’s talking about the legal side of immigration and not about making illegals legal.
Nice strawman. It was Cruz who has made unrestricted legal immigration a pro-issue, as he (half-heartedly) supported border security and cracking down on illegals.
Since Cruz made it an issue, he's being called on it.
Perhaps this is an inoculation for the “xenophobe” charge, but lets see what he proposes specifically to remedy the illegal immigrant infestation.
If you will read this, you’ll see this isn’t about illegal immigration.
He is talking about LEGAL immigration and changes he thinks would improve our legal immigration system.
She served 2.5 years (Dec 06 - Jul 09) before resigning thanks to frivolous lawsuits that were bankrupting her.
Ted Cruz's Best Idea Yet: Reform Taxes And Abolish IRS http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/3247338/posts The WaPo is Suddenly Terrified of Executive Orders... And Ted Cruz http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/3242832/posts OK I have a question; Why is it the ENTRIRE Washington DC "Establishment" FEARS Ted Cruz? http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/3242089/posts Sarah Palin & Ted Cruz: The Two Most Powerful People on Earth http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/3239822/posts
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