Letter regarding the “Supplying Knowledge-Based Immigrants and Lifting Levels of STEM Visas Act” (SKILLS Visa Act)

The Honorable Darrell Issa
U.S. House of Representatives
Washington, DC 20515

The Honorable Robert Goodlatte
U.S. House of Representatives
Washington, DC 20515

Dear Representatives Issa and Goodlatte:

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the world’s largest business federation representing the interests of more than three million businesses and organizations of every size, sector, and region, as well as state and local chambers and industry associations, and dedicated to promoting, protecting, and defending America’s free enterprise system, applauds your introduction of the “Supplying Knowledge-Based Immigrants and Lifting Levels of STEM Visas Act” (SKILLS Visa Act) as a critical step towards reforming the nation’s immigration system.

The Chamber thanks you for your leadership on high-skilled immigration. Important for our members, provisions in the SKILLS Visa Act would increase the H-1B cap, ensure that funding goes to the States for K-12 education to expand the pipeline of American students in science and technology fields, and set aside green cards when employers offer jobs to foreign professionals earning graduate degrees in the sciences and engineering from U.S. institutions.

The Chamber recognizes that the SKILLS Visa Act attempts to balance many competing interests, and looks forward to continue working with you to discuss and overcome any roadblocks that may arise as this bill is considered by Congress, including ensuring the wage provisions are appropriately calibrated to allow qualifying employers in all sectors and geographies to participate in these important visa programs.

Fixing the broken immigration system, though, will require implementing not just improved high-skilled immigration provisions, but also reforming the construct of existing temporary worker programs for the lesser-skilled and agriculture, strengthening border security while promoting travel and tourism, implementing a workable employment verification system, and establishing a process where undocumented immigrants can earn a legal status. 

To that end, the Chamber looks forward to working with you and Congress to pass legislation needed to reform America’s immigration system.

Sincerely,
R. Bruce Josten