Senate Immigration Reform Bill Would Help Spur Semiconductor Industry Growth, Innovation

'Gang of Eight' legislation enables foreign graduate students to remain in U.S. after receiving advanced degree, raises H-1B visa cap

WASHINGTON, April 17, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Semiconductor Industry Association (SIA), representing U.S. leadership in semiconductor manufacturing and design, today applauded the introduction of bipartisan Senate legislation that would reform America's high-skilled immigration system by allowing graduate students born outside the United States to apply for a green card and remain in the U.S. after receiving an advanced degree in a science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) discipline from an American university, and by expanding the H-1B visa program. The Border Security, Economic Opportunity, and Immigration Modernization Act of 2013 was introduced today by the bipartisan "Gang of Eight" – Sens. Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), Richard Durbin (D-Ill.), Robert Menendez (D-N.J.), Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), Jeff Flake (R-Ariz), Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), John McCain (R-Ariz.) and Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) – and now awaits action from the Senate Judiciary Committee.    

"For too long, America's outdated high-skilled immigration system has been an obstacle to U.S. innovation, job creation and economic growth," said Brian Toohey, president and CEO, Semiconductor Industry Association. "The Gang of Eight legislation marks a critical and long-overdue step toward fixing this broken system so that companies in the U.S. semiconductor industry and throughout the broader technology sector have access to the best and brightest minds from around the world. SIA commends the bipartisan group in the Senate for developing this compromise legislation, and we look forward to continuing to work with leaders in Congress to improve the bill further throughout the legislative process."

The legislation would exempt from the green card cap foreign nationals who graduate from an American university with a master's degree in a STEM field or a Ph.D., allowing these students to apply for a green card and remain in the U.S. after receiving their advanced degree. Under current law, many of these students are forced to leave the U.S. after graduation, causing the U.S. to forfeit much-needed jobs and expertise to our competitors abroad.

The bill also would expand the H-1B visa program for highly educated workers who want to fill open jobs in the U.S. Earlier this month, the U.S. government reached the H-1B visa limit within one week of accepting applications, illustrating the overwhelming demand for skilled immigrant workers in the high tech community.

Additionally, the legislation would ramp up efforts to increase the number of American STEM graduates by raising employer green card fees to generate revenue for strengthening targeted STEM education programs.

"The country's need for highly skilled and educated workers has never been greater, and the time for meaningful immigration reform is now," said Toohey. "This legislation helps move the ball forward; now we must work together to get high-skilled immigration reform over the goal line."

About the SIA

The Semiconductor Industry Association (SIA) is the voice of the U.S. semiconductor industry, one of America's top export industries and a key driver of America's economic strength, national security and global competitiveness. Semiconductors – microchips that control all modern electronics – enable the systems and products that we use to work, communicate, travel, entertain, harness energy, treat illness, and make new scientific discoveries. The semiconductor industry directly employs nearly a quarter of a million people in the U.S. In 2012, U.S. semiconductor sales totaled more than $146 billion, and semiconductors make the global trillion dollar electronics industry possible. Founded in 1977 by five microelectronics pioneers, SIA unites companies that account for 80 percent of America's semiconductor production. Through this coalition, SIA seeks to strengthen U.S. leadership of semiconductor design and manufacturing by working with Congress, the Administration and other key industry stakeholders to encourage policies and regulations that fuel innovation, propel business and drive international competition. Learn more at www.semiconductors.org.

Media Contact
Dan Rosso
Semiconductor Industry Association
[email protected]
202-446-1719

SOURCE Semiconductor Industry Association