Bush urges US Congress to lift H-1B visa limit

PTI ^ | February 03, 2006 | Sridhar Krishnaswami

[Tyche]

Making a strong pitch for America to stay competitive in the face of emerging economies such as India and China, President George W Bush has urged the Congress to raise the number of H-1B visas that allow companies to hire foreign workers for scientific and high tech jobs.

"Congress needs to understand that nations like India, China, Japan, Korea and Canada all offer tax incentives that are permanent. In other words, we live in a competitive world. We want to be the leader in this world," Bush said in a speech in Minnesota on Thursday.

To fill vacant jobs in the US, Bush urged the Congress to lift current limit on H-1B visas that allow foreign workers to get jobs in the United States. The Congress in 2005 capped at 65,000 the number of H-1B visas, a third of the 195,000 allowed during the technology boom.

"I think it's a mistake not to encourage more really bright folks who can fill the jobs that are having trouble being filled here in America, to limit their number. So I call upon Congress to be realistic and reasonable and raise that cap," Bush said, but did not say by how much he wanted the limit lifted.

He said that one part of the agenda to stay competitive was to study math and science, a theme he touched on in his State of the Union Address on Tuesday.

"It's one thing to research, but if you don't have somebody in that lab, well… And so I got some ideas for the Congress to consider. The first is to emphasize math and science early, and to make sure that the courses are rigorous enough that our children can compete globally," Bush said in a speech at the 3M Corporation.

He said there are more high-tech jobs in America today than people available to fill them. "So what do we do about that? And the reason it's important -- and the American citizen has got to understand it's important -- is if we don't do something about how to fill those high-tech jobs here, they'll go somewhere else where somebody can do the job."

"There are some who say, we can't worry about competition. It doesn't matter, it's here. It's a real aspect of the world in which we live," he said.

"And so one way to deal with this problem, and probably the most effective way, is to recognize that there's a lot of bright engineers and chemists and physicists from other lands that are either educated here, or received an education elsewhere but want to work here. And they come here under a programme called H1B visas," Bush said.

He said America should not fear competition. "It's important for us not to lose our confidence in changing times. It's important for us not to fear competition but welcome it."

Senior administration officials noted that the number of H-1B visas has fallen to 65,000 which in their estimation was 'too low' and that it was imperative 'to bump that up.'

". . . some of reports have called for increases of 10,000; others between 20,000 and 40,000. So there is a number of options on the table to be considered. But we'll work with Congress on that," said Claude Allen, assistant to the President for domestic policy.

[JasonC]

No, I am a researcher at a software company. I work with upper management certainly, and I have family in upper management at other companies. I also have family who work for the government - specifically, helping the navy shoot down ballistic missiles, if you want to know.

US wages aren't lower than when IBM was losing billions a year because MS and Intel took their old business. They are 64% higher than they were in 1990. And there are 25 million more jobs now than there were then. Efficiency pays for itself.

[raybbr]

Homeownership is at an all time high with home prices at all time highs.

Man, you got all the super-capitalist talking points covered. Hardly anyone "owns" their home. The bank does. Even the right to do with your property what you will is gone. You need a permit to build a damn shed these days.

[BlackbirdSST]

I am beginning to wonder. With a republican (hardly conservative) Congress and Kerry as president I kind of think the true conservatives would have given him a battle and forced the issue. With the social liberalism of GW there really is no battle about conservatism and liberalism here in the U.S. The pubs in Congress are mostly afraid to go against Bush. They would probably have put up one heck of fight agianst Kerry.

Ah, yup! Not to toot my own horn, but I've been warning since 1999, that we needed to keep this government divided. It should NEVER be controlled at all branches by the same political party. NEVER! Blackbird.

[JasonC]

The US congress decides the limits not any WTO. They are discussing increases ranging from 10k to 40k on a base of 65k, not tripling it. Who cares what kibitzers want, they aren't involved in the decision.

[Dewy]

ping

[hedgetrimmer]

Its all about trading off American jobs so the transnationals can get access to previously protected foreign trade.

***

India would favourably consider demand from the US and the EU for greater market for industrial goods in the country if the request for liberalisation of H1B visas is accepted, sources said.

The government is also looking at granting better market in services as well as agriculture if the demand for more visas is met. The visa issue is important to India, along with other issues like elimination of export subsidies for farm products in the US and the EU.

Scrapping of tariff peaks, which restrict market access to key goods like agriculture, is also being pursued strongly.

Negotiations on services, agriculture and market access for industrial goods — technically called Nama (non-agriculture market access) — are picking up in the run up to the Hong Kong ministerial meeting of the WTO slated for December.

In the case of services, the initial offers of India would pertain to liberalisation of business services, construction and related engineering services, health-related services, tourism and travel-related services, maritime services and transport services.

In certain cases, India has opened up the market for foreign companies on its own and the offer at the WTO would be to commit itself against reversal of market access.

In other words, market access would be ‘bound’ in a manner that makes it virtually impossible to close the doors on foreign companies without facing serious consequences.

As the time-consuming process of negotiations through ‘offers’ and ‘requests’ moves ahead, India might work on better market access to its partners only if other countries are willing to liberalise Mode 4 and Mode 1 under the GATS (General Agreement on Trade in Services). Initial offers were submitted at the end of last month and negotiations with various partners are ongoing.

http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/articleshow/msid-1151091,curpg-4.cms

[JasonC]

Home equity is also at all time highs. People most emphatically do own their homes. They also hold cash in bank accounts equal to all the mortgages there are - do you think banks don't have debts as well as assets?

[hedgetrimmer]

The US congress decides the limits not any WTO

No, it appears India is deciding in conjunction with the USTR. Congress isn't deciding anything. They didn't go to the Doha round, the USTR did.

[HiTech RedNeck]

Home equity is also at all time highs.

Because of insane price inflation fueled in turn by easy mortgage money.

[JasonC]

W is asking Congress - in the SOTU - to increase the H-1b visa limit. It is up to Congress how much, and as the article says, they are debating figures between 10k and 40k. Visas aren't decided at trade rounds. Why the disinformation?

[dljordan]

Thanks for being honest with me. I appreciate it.

[chipengineer]

>Take liberal arts. Become a banker, butcher or lawyer.

Why do you think those jobs can not be outsourced as well? The best banking jobs will go to where the smartest bankers are.

[BlackbirdSST]

If you want nancy pelosi running this country you are no conservative

Typical broken record from the usual kneepadding party hacks. We want conservatives, we get pelosi lite. Thanks, but no thanks. Enjoy your your reign, it's likely to be the shortest in known history. Blackbird.

[JasonC]

No doubt. And the money from each sale goes where? And the workers at the construction companies making new homes get paid in dirt and grass, right? And Pulte Homes isn't making money hand over fist "printing" houses, is it? You can choose to "play" it any way you like, it is economic activity and creating wealth.

[1066AD]

The unemployment rate ignores those not signed up for UI benefits.

there are more high-tech jobs in America today than people available to fill them

Anyone over 45 or 50 need not apply, you are an idiot by definition.

[JasonC]

Why wouldn't I be? They are all things to be proud of, and I am.

[Major_Risktaker]

H-1B visas = corporate spy's

[HiTech RedNeck]

usted lame los cargadores de los Jorge Arbusto

[hedgetrimmer]

What disinformation? India says they will "open markets" if the US raises the number of h1b visas. They discussed this at the doha. The president, pushing his "free trader" agenda will push congress to accept indias demands. Just as with the CAFTA you can bet there will be maximum giveways or coercion, whatever it will take to get India's demands accepted.

For "free trader" you don't seem to be too clear on the mechanics of the system.

[JasonC]

First, already asked and answered, the category of "discouraged" is tiny, a rounding error in the employment statistics. And it is not just the rate that is low, absolute number of jobs is at an all time high. The rates are not misleading in any respect, they correctly show that almost everyone who wants work can get it, that more people than ever do want work and have it, and that they are being paid more than ever before for that work. Which is the natural result of consistent free pursuit of efficiency, creating an ever growing pie.

Second, I did not say the line you put in italics. Pretending to quote me when you aren't is not honest.

Third, plenty of older technical personnel change jobs every year. At my company we certainly do not look only for young people, though we do actively look for talent among people who are still students because we want to grab them before somebody else does. Our most recent hire in my office was an older woman coming back to work after five years off raising a child. She was a C programmer and is learning a new language, successfully.

Fourth, I don't think you know what "by definition" means. Return to Euclid and try again.