U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords will visit a Tucson-based optical software and engineering firm Wednesday to meet with leaders of Southern Arizona’s growing high-technology industry and discuss possible visa reforms to help them compete in the 21st Century global marketplace.
The meeting will take place at Breault Research Organization, a 30-year-old firm that has been recognized by Gov. Janet Napolitano for excellence in technology development. Breault Research has 50 employees and sells its products in 35 countries.
H-1B visas are critically important to firms such as Breault Research to remain innovative and globally competitive. Nationally, more that 60 percent of H-1B visas are held by workers in computers, science, engineering, and medical positions. More than 40 percent of H-1B visa workers possess graduate or doctorate degrees.
This year, the United States capped new H-1B visas at approximately 65,000, not nearly enough to meet industry demands. The cap was hit on the first day applications were accepted, meaning that much-needed, well-educated high-tech workers were not available to U.S. companies.
Giffords, a member of the House Science and Technology Committee, will outline several H-1B visa reform ideas and solicit comments and suggestions from the executives. The Tucson lawmaker is planning to introduce legislation in December that accurately reflects industry needs.
WHAT: Breault Research Organization
WHEN: 11:45 a.m., Wednesday, Nov. 28
WHERE: 6400 E. Grant Road