Putting American Workers First
Thursday, March 5, 2009; Page A18
In response to the March 2 editorial "A Wall Built with Visas," opposing our guest-worker provision in the Economic Recovery Act, we want to ensure that readers receive a fair analysis.
During the past several months, the largest banks in this country have announced 100,000 job cuts. Reportedly, those same banks requested H-1B visas for more than 21,000 foreign guest workers over the past six years.
Just who is this "top talent from overseas"? Most of it is junior investment analysts, human resource specialists, corporate lawyers and vice presidents. These are hardly the specialized, high-tech jobs envisioned by the H-1B visa program.
With many thousands of financial services workers unemployed, it's absurd to claim that banks can't find top-notch American workers to perform these jobs. Nothing in our provision takes away the ability of these banks to hire H-1B guest workers; we simply ask that those taking American taxpayer funds give priority to qualified Americans and not replace laid-off American workers with temporary guest workers.
With unemployment rising, why shouldn't we demand that our money be invested in American workers?
BERNIE SANDERS
U.S. Senator (I-Vt.)
CHARLES GRASSLEY
U.S. Senator (R-Iowa)
Washington
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/03/04/AR2009030403480.html
Thursday, March 5, 2009; Page A18
In response to the March 2 editorial "A Wall Built with Visas," opposing our guest-worker provision in the Economic Recovery Act, we want to ensure that readers receive a fair analysis.
During the past several months, the largest banks in this country have announced 100,000 job cuts. Reportedly, those same banks requested H-1B visas for more than 21,000 foreign guest workers over the past six years.
Just who is this "top talent from overseas"? Most of it is junior investment analysts, human resource specialists, corporate lawyers and vice presidents. These are hardly the specialized, high-tech jobs envisioned by the H-1B visa program.
With many thousands of financial services workers unemployed, it's absurd to claim that banks can't find top-notch American workers to perform these jobs. Nothing in our provision takes away the ability of these banks to hire H-1B guest workers; we simply ask that those taking American taxpayer funds give priority to qualified Americans and not replace laid-off American workers with temporary guest workers.
With unemployment rising, why shouldn't we demand that our money be invested in American workers?
BERNIE SANDERS
U.S. Senator (I-Vt.)
CHARLES GRASSLEY
U.S. Senator (R-Iowa)
Washington
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/03/04/AR2009030403480.html