Feinstein Considers Amendment to limit Damage

Washington DC -- The Senate continues to debate an immigration bill that would be a sweeping overhaul of the nation's immigration laws. The bill currently under consideration would also greatly expand the H-1B visa program that allows highly skilled professionals to enter the U.S. for up to six years.

The bill, also known as the Specter Bill for Sen. Arlen Specter (R-PA), Chairman of the Senate Judiciary, would for all practical purposes increase the H-1B visa cap from 65,000 to 138,000 by allowing for a 20 percent escalator when the number of visas requested by employers reaches 115,000. Another provision in the bill would exempt workers from the cap if they have an advanced degree in science, technology, engineering or math. According to the AFL-CIO Department of Professional Employees, the Specter bill could very well mean 400,000 additional H-1B visas being issued.

Sen. Diane Feinstein (D-CA) is considering offering an amendment to the bill that would eliminate the 20 percent escalator clause once 115,000 H-1B visas have been issued.

Sen. Feinstein has flip-flopped on the H-1B visa issue; she was first opposed to increasing the cap before she decided she was in favor of increasing it after heavy lobbying from the tech industry.

In e-mail responses to her constituents on her H-1B visa position she writes:

I voted to increase the annual cap on H-1B visas from the current level of 65,000 to 115,000 with the possibility of a further 20% increase every year the cap is met. The fact is that in order to remain globally competitive, America must take in talented workers from around the world to work alongside Americans.

At the same time though, the Department of Labor must ensure that American workers are not discriminated against. I do not support replacing American workers with foreign-born workers and I believe that in the long term we must reduce our dependency on these visas. Please know that I will keep your concerns in mind as Congress exercises oversight of the H-1B temporary worker program.

Immigration issues are turning out to be a front and center topic for the upcoming election this fall. It is possible the election year politics may end any chances of reform for this year.

Subject: Stop H-1B Visa Expansion/Support Feinsteing Amendment

Dear [decision maker name automatically inserted here],

I am writing to continue to express my deepest opposition to any immigration reform bill that would expand the H-1B visa program from 65,000 to more than 115,000. The bill also would allow for a 20 percent increase in the number of visas once the 115,000 limit is reached.

Sen. Feinstein is also considering introducing an amendment that would remove the 20 percent escalation clause. I am asking you to support that amendment.

Overall, the bill would allow for an unwarranted increase in this program which would result in displacing domestic workers in favor of guest workers, further stagnate and drive down wages and working conditions.

It also does nothing to address the ongoing abuses employees face from the program. A recent The San Jose Mercury News article backs up all of the aforementioned claims by featuring a Chinese-American that was fired from his job while the company continued to employ lower cost cheaper guest workers under the H-1B visa p

Sincerely,

Richard White