Rep. Judy Biggert (R-Illinois) says there is a shortage of high tech workers and it won't end anytime soon. She thinks the solution is to import workers using H-1B until Americans can be educated enough to have the skills to work in high tech. 

Dear Mr. [name witheld]: 

Thank you for contacting me regarding your concern over increasing the number of temporary visas for foreign-born professional workers. I appreciate learning your views on this important issue. 

I believe that America's information technology (IT) industries are key to the nation's continued prosperity. IT businesses created 4.8 million jobs in the past six years and helped foster the highest standard of living in history, yet as Federal Reserve Chairman Greenspan has pointed out, the shortage of skilled workers is a threat to the strong economy. 

And that threat is real. This year, unfilled high tech positions at U.S. companies will hit almost 850,000, and this situation is not likely to change any time soon. The Department of Labor pre icts that t e fastest growing occupations betw 1998 and 2008 will be in IT fields, and 4 of these 5 fastest growing occupations can also be found in non-IT companies. 

To complicate matters, the number of American students earning high tech degrees is decreasing even as high tech employment opportunities and wages are increasing. Between 1987 and 1997, the number of undergraduate degrees awarded in electrical engineering declined 45 percent, computer science degrees awarded dropped 37 percent, and mathematics degrees declined by 21 percent. 

That's why I supported legislation to prevent a potential shortage of skilled workers. S. 2045, the "American Competitiveness in the Twenty-first Century Act of 2000," was signed into law on October 17, 2000 by President Clinton after the bill was passed overwhelmingly by the House and the Senate. 

Specifically, this law: 

• increases the number of H-1B visas to 200,000 for each fiscal year 2001 - 2003;

• designates that 10,000 visas will go to universities, and 60,000 to those holding Master's degrees; 

• eliminates the backlog of past years H-1B applications (estimates are from 40,000 - 80,000);

• targets the filing fee funding to three education programs (scholarships, student loan forgiveness and outreach) and a training program designed and implemented by the private sector; and,

• allows current H-1B holders to stay in the U.S. while their green card applications are being processed. 

This law takes a short- and long term approach to the shortage of highly skilled labor. It attempts to balance the needs of American businesses with the needs of American workers.

In the short-term, to address the immediate shortage of highly skilled workers, the law increases the number of available H-1B visas from 115,000 per year to 200,000 per year for only the next two years. For the long-term, it directs the revenue from the fees for these visas to worker training and education programs. Separate legislation, H.R. 5362, increased those fees from $500 to $1,000. 

This law recognizes the contributions that skilled foreign workers have made to our country's recent technological growth. At the same time, the law pays deference to American workers and students interested in high tech areas of work and study. For instance, the law currently contains lay-off protections for American workers, and all firms have to offer H-1B Visa holders wages and benefits comparable to their U.S. workers.

I believe prosperity in the Information Age is fueled by brainpower and people - people from all over the world. By increasing the Hl-B visa cap and investing more in U.S. education and training, important jobs in the technology industry will be filled by qualified people, thus creating even more job growth for American workers. This kind of action will ensure all Americans a brighter, stronger future. 

Thanks again for contacting me. I'm sorry that we don't see eye-to-eye on this issue, but if you should have any further questions or concerns on this or any matter before Congress, please do not hesitate to contact me. 

Sincerely,

Judy Biggert

Member of Congress

JB:in