House passes GOP visa reform bill over Dem objections
By Pete Kasperowicz - 11/30/12 11:44 AM ET
The House on Friday approved legislation aimed at providing more visas to foreign nationals with advanced degrees from U.S. universities. Members approved the STEM Jobs Act by a 245-139 vote. While most Democrats opposed the bill, 27 of them joined Republicans in support of the measure, just a little less than the 30 Democrats who voted for it earlier this year.
The bill creates a new category of visas for foreign students with science, technology, engineering or math (STEM) degrees. Republicans said the bill would reorient the visa program toward people who can stay in the United States and help create jobs.
Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R-Va.) said. "For each person we welcome to America with one of these high degrees, we create jobs, net jobs," said Rep. Darrell Issa (R-Calif.). "We create opportunity for expansion of the kinds of businesses that in fact Americans are prepared to work in, but often we do not have enough engineers, scientists or math professionals."
Rep. Hank Johnson (D-Ga.) took the argument a step further by charging that the bill is outright "racist" in its intent because it would necessarily shut down visas for people in African countries."That is racist, if not in its intent, then certainly in its effect," Johnson said.
The STEM Act gives green cards to foreign-born graduates with advanced science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) degrees from U.S. universities.
http://thehill.com/blogs/hillicon-v...p-visa-reform-bill-over-dem-charges-of-racism
Surely any country would want talented immigrants instead of uneducated ones?
By Pete Kasperowicz - 11/30/12 11:44 AM ET
The House on Friday approved legislation aimed at providing more visas to foreign nationals with advanced degrees from U.S. universities. Members approved the STEM Jobs Act by a 245-139 vote. While most Democrats opposed the bill, 27 of them joined Republicans in support of the measure, just a little less than the 30 Democrats who voted for it earlier this year.
The bill creates a new category of visas for foreign students with science, technology, engineering or math (STEM) degrees. Republicans said the bill would reorient the visa program toward people who can stay in the United States and help create jobs.
Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R-Va.) said. "For each person we welcome to America with one of these high degrees, we create jobs, net jobs," said Rep. Darrell Issa (R-Calif.). "We create opportunity for expansion of the kinds of businesses that in fact Americans are prepared to work in, but often we do not have enough engineers, scientists or math professionals."
Rep. Hank Johnson (D-Ga.) took the argument a step further by charging that the bill is outright "racist" in its intent because it would necessarily shut down visas for people in African countries."That is racist, if not in its intent, then certainly in its effect," Johnson said.
The STEM Act gives green cards to foreign-born graduates with advanced science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) degrees from U.S. universities.
http://thehill.com/blogs/hillicon-v...p-visa-reform-bill-over-dem-charges-of-racism
Surely any country would want talented immigrants instead of uneducated ones?
