This from www.immigrationvoice.com:

[i]"There is no sign of any compromise that could be reached between Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-AL) and other senate members who wanted to convince him to let some immigration relief provision into the last minute bills passed on the congress.

Congress adjourns today and the new Congress will come into session on January 4th.

There are several reasons for no successful legislation this year:

1. The biggest impediment has been the House Judiciary committee, and the Republican leadership of the House that stalled the Comprehensive reform. The Comprehensive reform's presence and controversy prevent any other discussion on anything related to immigration taken place.

2. Its not just Immigration Voice that is working on our issues. There are several hi-tech companies who have tried till the last moment for the whole year to get SKIL bill passed. If the entire IT industry, hi-tech lobby, with all its might and decades of lobbying experience and political clout could not even get their single most important issue -- H1B quota done -- it just shows how stubborn some members of congress have been in blocking this legislation.

3. Its not the lack of effort on IV core or IV members and its not the lack of funds or hard work that has been in any way responsible for lack of outcome. If we had worked 10 times harder with 10 times more funds, the outcome would probably still have been the same. This congress has been absolutely dysfunctional. However, that does not mean we shouldnt have tried or our efforts are in vain. The strengthening of organization resulting from our efforts last year will make a difference next year.

Although this is demoralizing, we request people to relax wait for the next congress that will have much more incentive to fix immigration with CIR.

IV core sincerely and whole heartedly thanks all the members and visitors for their support."

My comments:

1. Although they knew to call "their" representatives (even though as foreigners those representatives were supposed to be on our side not theirs), there seems to be no recognition or even awareness of our calls and communications. Their failure is put down solely to stubborness and ignorance on the part of individual legislators, Sessions being mentioned in particular on that board.

2. They do not understand how the industry (i.e. Microsoft et. al.) could have lost. I find this a cultural difference between us and them, there is great reliance on rank-based authority in India and the highest ranking name is supposed to settle any matter.

3. They will be back. So we also need to be. We also owe Sessions a big thank-you.