Thread: H-1B increase in the Defense Authorization Act - SA 2143

From Rob Sanchez' Job Destruction newsletter:

<<<<< JOB DESTRUCTION NEWSLETTER No. 1730 -- 7/18/2007 >>>>>

Most people probably think immigration legislation is dead, but don't tell
that to Congress! There is an attempt to amend the defense authorization
bill (HR 1585) with increases to H-1B. In case you haven't been keeping up
with the news -- HR 1585 is the bill that is being debated all night on the
issue of Iraq.

My take on what is going on is that the cheap labor lobby is poking
everywhere they can to find a weak point. Sen. Cornyn (R-TX) is the
ringleader of this insidious plot but he has co-conspirators such as Obama,
Clinton, Kerry, Durbin, Lieberman, Hagel, and Feinstein. It's too early to
tell if this sinister plan to amend the war effort will work, but if it
doesn't there will be other attempts. One thing for sure, this shows just
how determined they are to get more employment based visas.

Ask yourself this question -- how does raising the numbers of H-1B and
green card visas help us with the Iraqi war?

To read some excellent analysis of what is going on, NumbersUSA is once
again the best source of information. Go here:
http://www.numbersusa.com/hottopic/congress.html

There are two possible inaccuracies in the NumbersUSA analysis:

1) NumbersUSA said exemptions to the H-1B cap would be made to
"U.S.-educated scientists and engineers". Actually the Science, Technology,
Engineering, and Math (STEM) would provide unlimited exemptions for
advanced degrees from U.S. universities PLUS unlimited advanced degrees
from foreign universities. In other words, it's a free-for-all for anyone
in the world that has a piece of paper that claims they have an advanced
degree.

I have never figured out why U.S. universities support STEM, but they all
do. Right now U.S. universities have a monopoly because foreign students
must get degrees in the U.S. to get exemptions from the yearly visa cap.
Why would universities support a bill that will break up their monopoly by
allowing exemptions to students who graduate in foreign countries? The only
explanation I can think of is that universities are like corporations --
they want cheap labor to solve short term budget problems even if it means
long term financial ruin.

2) NumbersUSA says:

Grassley also is cosponsoring a Durbin amendment (SA 223 designed
to address the problems of fraud and abuse in the H-1B "high-skill"
and L-1 "intracompany transferee/specialized knowledge"
nonimmigrant worker programs, as well as protect opportunities for
U.S. workers. (This proposal mirrors the Durbin- and Grassley-backed
"H-1B and L-1 Visa Fraud and Abuse Prevention Act of 2007"

That's true, but SA 2238 is a deal with the devil! That's because in order
for this a few trivial reforms SA 2143 must be passed. In other words, they
are saying if we accept huge increases in visas then they will give us some
"reforms" to protect us. However you look at it, this is just some slick
packaging to convince us to buy global labor arbitrage.

This is from the Congressional Record:

Mr. DURBIN (for himself and Mr. GRASSLEY) submitted an
amendment intended to be proposed to amendment SA 2143

<<<<<>>>>>


To see the actual text of the H-1B proposals and the DREAM ACT, use these
links to view the Congressional Record:

SA 2237: The DREAM Act -- which allows illegal aliens to get amnesty and
in-state tuition
http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin ... sition=all


SA 2143: It appears to be the worst parts of the SKIL Bill.
http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin ... sition=all


SA 2238: Basically the Durbin/Grassley "reform" bill
http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin ... sition=all

Sen. Cornyn (R-TX) is my senator and I will send him another letter and call him