Crowley Opposes Partisan Visa Bill

Nov 30, 2012 Issues: In the Community

(Washington, D.C.) – Today, Rep. Joe Crowley (D-Queens, the Bronx) voted against H.R. 6429, a partisan GOP bill that would create a new visa program for graduates of U.S. universities with advanced degrees in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM), but at the expense of the Diversity Visa Program. The Diversity Visa Program is a longstanding initiative focused on ensuring diversity in immigration, and has been of significant benefit to many of New York City’s immigrant communities. The GOP’s STEM visa bill not only eliminates this critical program, but is also devoid of any serious effort to address the real problems plaguing our immigration system.

“Fixing our troubled immigration system is one of the greatest challenges facing us as a nation, and the only way we will achieve real reform is by addressing the issue comprehensively and collaboratively. Partisan, controversial legislation, such as today’s STEM visa bill, is not a means to an end. What we need is a comprehensive solution, which would give us an opportunity to appropriately address STEM visas, instead of piecemeal efforts to pick winners and losers in the immigration system. It is my hope that my colleagues on both sides of the aisle will recognize the need to enact real, comprehensive immigration reform as soon as possible.”

Congressman Crowley is a seven-term representative from the 7th Congressional District of New York, which includes sections of Queens and the Bronx. He is a member of the Ways and Means Committee and is a chief deputy whip in the Democratic leadership of the U.S. House of Representatives.