Strong Support for the STEM Jobs Act

Strong Support for the STEM Jobs Act

Washington, D.C. – Leading up to the House of Representatives’ floor vote on the STEM Jobs Act (H.R. 6429), support for the legislation among national associations, U.S. employers, and trade and professional organizations continues to grow.  The STEM Jobs Act boosts job creation and spurs economic growth by eliminating the diversity visa lottery and reallocating up to 55,000 green cards a year to the top foreign graduates of U.S. universities with advanced degrees in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) fields.  The bill is sponsored by House Judiciary Committee Chairman Lamar Smith (R-Texas) and currently has 60 cosponsors.  Below are some of the many statements of support for the STEM Jobs Act. 

Scott Corley, Compete America Executive Director: “We thank Chairman Lamar Smith and the cosponsors of the STEM Jobs Act of 2012 for their commitment to ensuring America has the skilled workforce it needs to remain the world leader in innovation. We believe this bill is one of many important steps needed to reform our high skilled immigration system, and we look forward to working in a bipartisan fashion to pass critically needed reform legislation that can be signed into law by the president.”

Ed Loya, Dell, Inc. Vice President for Global Human Resources:  “The U.S. has massive economic growth opportunities in the STEM fields.  However, having a competitive, global economy means the United States must allow the best and the brightest STEM graduates from American institutions of higher education to live and work here, contribute to our economy, and add value to companies.  Chairman Lamar Smith’s ‘STEM Jobs Act’ goes a long way to helping companies compete and grow in the U.S.” 

Keith Grzelak, IEEE-USA Vice President for Government Relations: “Enabling these graduates to become fully participating citizens will have a significant impact on our economy and create jobs.  America is ready to put their skills, education and ideas to work here rather than for an overseas competitor so that Americans can benefit in the form of future jobs and economic activity here at home.”

Andy Halataei, Information Technology Industry Council Director of Government Relations:  “The STEM Jobs Act is a vital piece of legislation that moves the ball forward in reforming our nation’s high-skilled immigration system by keeping our highly educated STEM students here in the U.S. to create jobs and grow the economy here at home.  We commend House Judiciary Chairman Lamar Smith for introducing the STEM Jobs Act, which will help to halt the practice of educating and returning abroad our best STEM students to compete against us.”

U.S. Chamber of Commerce: “The U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the world’s largest business federation representing the interests of more than three million businesses and organizations of every size, sector, and region, strongly supports H.R. 6429, the “STEM Jobs Act of 2012,” which would spur innovation and create high paying manufacturing and research jobs in the U.S. by establishing a new green card program for advanced degree graduates in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics … H.R. 6429 would bolster American competitiveness by allocating up to 55,000 green cards a year so these skilled innovators will create new jobs and products here in America rather than elsewhere.”

For more information on the STEM Jobs Act and a list of supporters, visit http://judiciary.house.gov/issues/issues_STEM%20Jobs%20Act.html