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REUNIFICATION NEEDS.
NOT SIMPLY BASED ON PURE LUCK.
OUR IMMIGRATION SYSTEM IS IN
NEED OF MORE REFORM THAN THIS,
BUT THIS IS A GREAT REFORM AND
THIS LEGISLATION.
THE
GENTLEMAN'S TIME HAS EXPIRED.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM MICHIGAN.
I'M PLEASED TO
YIELD TO THE FORMER CHAIRMAN OF
THE EDUCATION AND LABOR
COMMITTEE, THE DISTINGUISHED
GENTLEMAN FROM CALIFORNIA,
GEORGE MILLER, TWO MINUTES.
THE
MR. MILL --
I THANK THE
GENTLEMAN FOR YIELDING.
I RISE IN OPPOSITION TO THIS
PARTISAN BILL.
IT'S UNFORTUNATE.
MAINTAINING THIS COUNTRY'S
ADVANTAGE IN SCIENCE AND
TECHNOLOGY IS AN IMPORTANT
ISSUE.
WE HAVE LONG SUPPORTED EFFORTS
TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE OF STEM
VISAS, WE RECOGNIZE HOW
IMPORTANT THESE CAREERS ARE TO
THIS COUNTRY.
WE COULD BE WORKING TOGETHER IN
THESE ISSUES IN A FAIR AND
THOUGHTFUL MANNER.
BUT THIS BILL DOES NOT DO THAT.
INSTEAD OF WORKING TOGETHER,
THE MAJORITY HAS CHOSEN A
PARTISAN ROUTE THIS ROUTE PUTS
AMERICAN WORKERS' WAGES AT RISK
AT A TIME WHEN THEY CAN ILL
AFFORD IT.
IT ALLOWS A DANGEROUS RACE TO
WAGES DOWN FOR AMERICAN
WORKERS.
IT ALLOWS THEM TO PAY VIDEO IS
A HOLDERS LESS THAN SIMILARLY
SITUATED WORKERS WHO ARE NOT
VISA HOLDERS.
WE KNOW THIS WILL MEAN U.S.
WORKERS -- WHAT THIS WILL MEAN
FOR U.S. WORKERS' PAY AND JOB
OPPORTUNITIES.
DEPRESSING FAMILY WAGES IS NOT
WHAT OUR COUNTRY MEEDS.
THAT'S WHY I JOIN WITH
CONGRESSWOMAN LOFGREN THAT
WOULD REQUIRE A VISA HOLDER TO
BE PAID AT LEAST THE ACTUAL
WAGE BEING PAID TO AN AMERICAN
WORKER IN THE POSITION.
I ALSO WORRY THAT THIS WILL PAY
OFF FOR-PROFIT INSTITUTIONS.
THE REPUBLICAN BILL ALLOWS
FOR-PROFIT INSTITUTIONS TO
PARTICIPATE.
THESE
STEWINGS TO FIND NEW, LUCRATIVE
REVENUE STREAMS FOR THEIR
SHAREHOLDERS.
THE AMERICAN PEOPLE MADE IT
CLEAR THEY ARE FED UP WITH THE
POWERFUL SPECIAL INTERESTS
GAMING THE SYSTEM TO GAIN THE
BOTTOM LINE.
THEY ARE FED UP WITH THE
PARTISAN POLITICS MEANT TO GAIN
THE ADVANTAGE IN AN ELECTION
CYCLE.
IT'S BEEN TWO YEARS -- WE'VE
HAD TWO YEARS TO HAVE A FULL
AND OPEN DEBATE ON THIS ISSUE
BUT THE REPUBLICANS HAVE CHOSEN
PARTISANSHIP OVER MOVING THIS
COUNTRY FORWARD.
THAT'S WHY WE SEE THIS BILL
REQUIRING 2/3'S VOTE.
THE
GENTLEMAN'S TIME HAS EXPIRED.
UNDER THIS BILL,
EMPLOYERS HAVE TO PAY THE
PREVAILING WAGE.
GENTLEMAN GOT HIS INFORMATION.
MR. SPEAKER, I YIELD ONE MINUTE
TO THE GENTLEMAN FROM ARKANSAS,
MR. GRIFFIN, THE DISTINGUISHED
AND ACTIVE MEMBER OF THE
JUDICIARY COMMITTEE.
THE
GENTLEMAN FROM ARKANSAS.
I RISE IN SUPPORT
OF THE STEM JOBS ACT AND THANK
LEADERSHIP.
I WANT TO TELL YOU ABOUT JOB
CREATORS IN MY DISTRICT WHO
WOULD BENEFIT PR THIS BILL.
WELLSTONE TUBULAR WHO MADE THE
PIPES FOR THE PIPELINE NEEDS
HIGHLY SKILLED WORKERS.
ANOTHER COMPANY NEEDS WORKERS
TO DEVELOP LASER PRODUCTS.
THESE COMPANIES HAVE STRUGGLED
TO FIND THE SPECIFIC TALENT
THEY NEED AND THIS BILL WOULD
HELP THEM CREATE JOBS.
WE ARE CURRENTLY EDUCATING
HIGHLY SKILLED PH.D.'S AND
MASTERS AND SENDING THEM BACK
HOME TO COMPETE AGAINST US
AFTER THEY GRADUATE.
THAT'S LIKE ARKANSAS RECRUITING
THE BEST COLLEGE FOOTBALL
PLAYERS FROM TEXAS, TRAINING
THEM ON OUR OFFENSE, AND
SENDING THEM BACK TO TEXAS TO
COMPETE AGAINST US.
THAT DOESN'T MAKE ANY SENSE.
LET'S FIX IT.
LET'S PASS THIS BILL.
THE
THE GENTLEMAN FROM MICHIGAN.
MR. SPEAKER, FEW
HAVE WORKED HARDER ON THIS WITH
SOW LOFGREN THAN THE GENTLEMAN
FROM ILLINOIS, MR. GUTIERREZ,
-- WITH ZOE LOFGREN THAN THE
GENTLEMAN FROM ILLINOIS, MR.
GUTIERREZ, I YIELD HIM TWO
MINUTES.
THIS DEBATE IS
NOT ABOUT SENDING EDUCATED
PEOPLE BACK TO THEIR COUNTRIES.
THE REAL DEBATE WE ARE HAVING
TODAY IN CREATING STEM VISAS IS
WHETHER TO SHUT THE DOOR TO
OPPORTUNITY TO OTHERS WHO
OF AMERICA.
I HAVEN'T SEEN ONE LETTER FROM
GOOGLE, YAHOO, APPLE, INTEL OR
HIGH TECH INDUSTRIES THAT SAYS
ELIMINATE 25,000 TO 30,000
VISAS TO THOSE FROM AFRICA AND
GIVE THEM TO THE HIGH TECH
INDUSTRY.
I HAVEN'T SEEN ONE LETTER THAT
SAYS THAT.
AND THEY KNOW THAT, IT'S JUST
SOMETHING THEY WANT TO DO, THEY
WANT TO POISON THIS WELL WITH
THAT KIND OF BAD POLICY.
BASED ON THE IMMIGRANT STORIES
WE HEARD AT THE REPUBLICAN AND
DEMOCRAT CONVENTION FROM ALMOST
EVERY SPEAKER, I WOULD GUESS
ALL OF US WOULD WELCOME ANY
DECENT, HARDWORKING PERSON WITH
ENOUGH HEART AND GUTS TO PURSUE
THEIR BIGGEST DREAM BUT THAT'S
NOT WHAT THIS BILL DOES.
I WISH IT DID.
IMAGINE IF THOSE MILLIONS WHO
PASS THROUGH ELLIS ISLAND WERE
GIVEN A TEST WHEN THEY ARRIVED.
IF THEY WERE GIFTED IN SCIENCE
AND MATH, THEY WERE IN.
IF THEY WERE SIMPLY A
HARDWORKING MAN OR WOMAN IN
SEARCH OF A BETTER LIFE, THEY
WOULDN'T HAVE BEEN GOOD ENOUGH
UNDER THIS BILL.
THINK ABOUT IT.
WHERE WOULD WE ALL BE IF WE HAD
TO PASS THAT TEST?
THE PELOSIS AND THE BILLIONAIRES
AND THE BLUMENAUERS, THE
SCHAKOWSKIES AND THE LIPINSKIS,
THE KEN KISS -- KEN DISAND THE
KUCINICHES.
WHEN MY PARENTS CAME FROM PUERTO
RICO THEY DIDN'T NEED A VISA BUT
THEY JUST HAD A SIXTH GRADE
EDUCATION AND A NINTH GRADE
EDUCATION.
THUNDERSTORM BILL THEY WOULD
SAY, NOT HERE AND NOT IN THIS
YOU'RE NOT WELCOME.
BUT MY MOM WORKED IN A FACTORY
AND MY DAD DROVE A CAB AND THEY
WORKED HARD EVERY DAY.
THEY WORKED HARD EVERY DAY TO
AND THEY SENT THEIR CHILDREN TO
COLLEGE AND ONE OF THEM TODAY
SERVES IN THE CONGRESS OF THE
UNITED STATES.
THEY LIVED THE STORY OF AMERICA.
30 MORE SECONDS.
STORY OF AMERICA.
THEY CAME WITH NOTHING BUT HOPES
AND PLAYED BY THE RULES AND
AGGRIEVED -- ACHIEVED GREAT
THINGS.
AMERICA'S ALSO A NATION BECAUSE
WE ATTRACT THOSE WITH THE MOST
HEART AND SOUL TO MAKE SOMETHING
LET'S DEFEAT THAT BILL SO WE CAN
TRADITION.
THE
GENTLEMAN'S TIME HAS EXPIRED.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM TEXAS.
MR. SPEAKER, I
RECOGNIZE MYSELF FOR 30 SECONDS.
THE
GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED.
MR. SPEAKER, NO ONE
IS HURT MORE BY THE DIVERSITY
VISA PROGRAM THAN UNEMPLOYED
HISPANICS AND BLACK AMERICANS.
THE UNEMPLOYMENT RATE FOR
HISPANICS WITH ONLY A HIGH
SCHOOL EDUCATION IS ALMOST 14%.
THE UNEMPLOYMENT RATE FOR
AFRICAN-AMERICANS WITH ONLY A
HIGH SCHOOL EDUCATION IS ALMOST
THE DIVERSITY VISA PROGRAM
FORCES THESE UNEMPLOYED
AMERICANS TO COMPETE WITH THOSE
OTHER INDIVIDUALS WHO DON'T HAVE
MORE THAN A HIGH SCHOOL
EDUCATION FOR VERY SCARCE
AMERICAN JOBS.
WHY DO WE WANT TO DO THIS TO OUR
OWN PEOPLE?
I RECOGNIZE FOR TWO MINUTES THE
GENTLEMAN FROM IDAHO, MR.
LABRADOR, AND ORIGINAL
CO-SPONSOR OF THIS LEGISLATION,
VERY ACTIVE ON THIS SUBJECT.
THE
GENTLEMAN FROM IDAHO.
SPEAKER.
I RISE TODAY IN SUPPORT OF THE
STEM JOBS ACT OF 2012.
THIS BILL ADDRESSES ONE OF THE
BIPARTISAN ISSUES WE OUGHT TO BE
ABLE TO SOLVE THEIR IN THE HOUSE
OF REPRESENTATIVES.
BOTH PRESIDENT OBAMA AND
GOVERNOR ROMNEY HAVE SPOKEN
ABOUT THE NEED TO REFORM OUR
IMMIGRATION SYSTEM, TO KEEP MORE
OF THE BEST AND THE BRIGHTEST
MINDS IN AMERICA.
I'M VERY PLEASED TO HAVE WORKED
WITH CHAIRMAN SMITH ON THIS BILL
AND I WANT TO THANK HIM FOR HIS
LEADERSHIP ON THIS BILL.
I ALSO WANT TO THANK MR.
GOODLATTE AND THE MAJORITY
LEADER FOR THEIR COMMITMENT TO
FLOOR.
THE FUTURE OF OUR ECONOMY IS IN
STEM FIELDS.
NEW PRINTERS FROM
HEWLETT-PACKARD, NEW
SEMICONDUCTORS AND NEW PHONES
FROM APPLE ARE ALL RELIANT ON
RETAIN THE WORLD'S BEST AND
BRIGHTEST STUDENTS AND
HARNESSING THEIR INGENUITY TO
CREATE JOCKS HERE IN AMERICA --
JOBS HERE IN AMERICA.
EVEN IN AN ECONOMIC DOWNTURN,
THERE AREN'T ENOUGH U.S.-BORN
GRADUATES TO MEET THE NEEDS OF
HIGH-TECH EMPLOYERS.
RIGHT NOW FOREIGN-BORN STUDENTS
ARE BENEFITING FROM OUR
EDUCATION SYSTEM AND THEN GOING
HOME TO COMPETE WITH US.
THIS LEGISLATION ALLOWS US TO
RETAIN THEIR SKILLS AND
WE KNOW THAT EVERY AMERICAN WITH
AN ADVANCED STEM DEGREE CREATES
TWO TO THREE NEW AMERICAN JOBS.
WE ARE PLACE -- WE ARE REPLACING
A BROKEN, INEFFICIENT VISA
PROGRAM WITH ONE THAT WORKS.
REWARDS INNOVATION AND MAKES
JOBS FOR OUR ECONOMY.
MR. SPEAKER, I'VE HEARD THE
OTHER SIDE TALK ABOUT THIS BILL
TODAY, ALL DAY.
THIS OTHER SIDE CONTROLLED THE
HOUSE, THE SENATE AND THE
PRESIDENCY FOR TWO YEARS AND DID
NOTHING TO IMPROVE THE
IMMIGRATION SYSTEM.
THEY DIDN'T PASS IMMIGRATION
BILLS, YET THE PRESIDENT
CAMPAIGNS ON THE ISSUE OF
IMMIGRATION REFORM.
YET ONCE AGAIN, FACED WITH
ACTUALLY PASSING A BILL THAT
IMPROVES THE IMMIGRATION SYSTEM,
THEY'RE MAKING A STAND AGAINST
IMMIGRATION REFORM AND AGAINST
ECONOMIC GROWTH.
LET ME CLARIFY ONE THING.
I HAVE A GREAT DEAL OF RESPECT
FOR CONGRESSMAN LOFGREN.
SHE AND I HAVE TALKED ABOUT THIS
ISSUE FOR THE ENTIRE YEAR AND A
HALF, TWO YEARS THAT I'VE BEEN
HERE IN CONGRESS.
AND I RECOGNIZE THAT SHE'S BEEN
A LEADER ON THIS ISSUE FOR OVER
THE YEARS.
BUT I'M ALSO AN IMMIGRATION
ATTORNEY, I'VE BEEN AN
IMMIGRATION ATTORNEY FOR 15
YEARS.
AND I MUST CLARIFY THAT UNUSED
DIVERSITY VISAS HAVE NEVER
ROLLED OVER AND THIS IS JUST
PROOF THAT THIS IS MORE ABOUT
POLITICS THAN POLICY.
THANK YOU.
THE
GENTLEMAN'S TIME HAS EXPIRED.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM MICHIGAN.
MR. SPEAKER, THE
PREVIOUS SPEAKER, AND I'D LIKE
TO GAIN HIS ATTENTION, THE HOUSE
OF WHICH YOU ARE A MEMBER PASSED
THE DREAM ACT 216-208 AND WE
ENJOYED THE SUPPORT OF EIGHT
REPUBLICAN MEMBERS.
MR. SPEAKER, I NOW TURN TO A
SENIOR MEMBER OF THE COMMITTEE
FROM THE JUDICIARY, SHEILA
JACKSON LEE, AND I AM ONLY ABLE
TO YIELD TO HER 1 1/2 MINUTES.
THE
SECONDS.
MR. CHAIRMAN,
I'M MOST GRATEFUL.
LET ME THANK YOU VERY MUCH, TO
THE SPEAKER, AND TO MY COLLEAGUE
FROM TEXAS.
THIS IS THE PERFECT
INFRASTRUCTURE FOR COLLABORATION
AND BIPARTISANSHIP.
WE HAVE WORKED TOGETHER ON THIS
ISSUE AND WE HAVE CROBTED THE
ISSUE THAT I MENTIONED --
CONFRONTED THE ISSUE THAT I
MENTIONED TO CONGRESSWOMAN
LOFGREN, AND WHAT WE WILL
CONTINUE TO WORK ON IS TO ENSURE
THE OUTREACH TO HISTORICALLY
BLACK COLLEGES AND HAS PANIC
HFER-SERVING -- HISPANIC-SERVING
PREPARED TO WORK IN AMERICA'S
TECHNOLOGY INDUSTRY, AND I
EXPECT THAT THAT WILL HAPPEN.
AND SO I AM SUPPORTIVE OF STEM
VISAS, TO PROVIDE FOR THE
INFRASTRUCTURE OF WORKERS FOR
THE DYNAMIC TECHNOLOGY, SILICON
VALLEY, SOFTWARE, AUSTIN, TEXAS,
AND BEYOND, TO BE ABLE TO BE
VIBRANT AND THRIVING.
BUT AS I JUST LEFT THE PRESIDENT
OF MALAWI, A WOMAN WHO HAS
INSPIRED HER PEOPLE TO LOOK TO
THE FUTURE, AND AS THEY LOOK TO
THE FUTURE WE HAVE SAID THAT WE
WANT TO ENSURE THAT AMERICA HAS
A FUTURE WITH THE CONTINENT.
TO REMOVE THE DIVERSITY VISAS,
DIVERSITY VISAS THAT CREATE
DIVERT, TO TAKE AWAY THE
OPPORTUNITIES FROM A CONTINENT
THAT BY AND LARGE HAS BEEN AN
ALLY AND FRIEND TO THE UNITED
STATES, WHOSE AFRICAN CITIZENS
HAVE COME TO BE REUNITED WITH
FAMILIES, WHO HAVE GENERATED
OUTSTANDING BUSINESSES, FROM
SOUTH AFRICANS TO KENYANS TO
THOSE FROM NYE THE GENTLELADY'S
TIME HAS EXPIREDIA, -- NIGERIA,
WHERE IN MY TOWN NIGERIANS HAVE
CREATED THE MOST SUCCESSFUL
BRAND OF SMALL BUSINESSES FROM
BEING SEAMSTRESSES TO DOCTORS
AND LAWYERS AND OTHERS.
I CANNOT VOTE FOR A BILL THAT
WILL ALLOW US TO REMOVE THE
COMPONENT FOR DIVERSITY VISAS AS
AN EXCHANGE OR SUBSTITUTE FOR
THIS KIND OF APPROACH.
WE MUST HAVE A BALANCED
REFORM.
I YIELD BACK.
THE
GENTLELADY'S TIME HAS EXPIRED.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM TEXAS.
MR. SPEAKER, LET'S
PUT OUR OWN UNEMPLOYED HISPANICS
AND BLACK AMERICANS FIRST.
THEY SHOULD COME FIRST.
MR. SPEAKER, I YIELD 45 SECONDS
TO THE GENTLEMAN FROM
CALIFORNIA, MR. BILBRAY, THE
REFORM CAUCUS.
THE
GENTLEMAN FROM CALIFORNIA.
MR. CHAIRMAN, I
RISE TODAY IN STRONG SUPPORT OF
THIS PIECE OF LEGISLATION AND
ALL OVER AMERICA AMERICANS ARE
HAVING TO MAKE PRIORITY
DECISIONS IN THEIR FAMILIES.
THE FACT IS THIS CONGRESS NEEDS
TO MAKE SOME PRIORITY DECISIONS.
IT IS NOT ONLY THE RIGHT BUT THE
RESPONSIBILITY OF THIS CONGRESS
AND THIS NATION TO MAKE SURE
THAT OUR IMMIGRATION POLICY IS
GOOD FOR AMERICA FIRST AND
THIS BILL WILL REPLACE A FAILED
SYSTEM THAT ACTUALLY GAMBLED
WITH AMERICA'S FUTURE BY HAVING
A LOTTERY.
AND REPLACES IT WITH BRINGING
GOOD SCIENTISTS IN.
LET ME GIVE YOU THE NUMBERS FROM
JUST RECENTLY.
THIS IS GOING TO CREATE 55,000,
WE'LL BE ABLE TO SEE THAT -- DO
WE WANT TO HAVE 6,000 IRANIANS
COMING HERE OR DO WE WANT 6,000
SCIENTISTS AND RESEARCHERS
COMING IN?
DO WE WANT TO SET ASIDE AN AREA
WHERE WE HAVE OVER 2,000 MA
RACKANS BEING GIVEN -- MOROCCANS
BEING GIVEN A SET-ASIDE FOR
THEIR COUNTRY RATHER THAN
TREATING INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE
PROVEN THAT THEY HAVE AN ASSET
THAT WE NEED IN THIS COUNTRY?
THE REAL ISSUE HERE, MR.
CHAIRMAN, ARE WE REALLY TO
CORRECT THE MISTAKE OF THE PAST,
TO MOVE FORWARD WITH A FAIR
SYSTEM THAT JUDGES INDIVIDUALS
BASED ON THEIR MERIT, NOT BASED
ON THE COUNTRY THAT THEY ARE
AND I YIELD BACK.
THE
GENTLEMAN'S TIME HAS EXPIRED.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM MICHIGAN.
MR. SPEAKER, I
YIELD THE GENTLELADY, MS. SHEILA
JACKSON LEE, 25 SECONDS.
THE
GENTLELADY IS RECOGNIZED.
IF WE PASS THE
AMERICAN JOBS ACT WE WILL HELP
HISPANIC YOUNGSTERS, ANGLO
YOUNGSTERS, AFRICAN YOUNGSTERS.
WHAT AN INSULT TO AMERICA'S
VALUES TO SUGGEST THAT THOSE WHO
COME TO THIS COUNTRY TO GIVE BY
THE WAY OF A LEGAL PROCESS,
DIVERSITY VISAS ARE NOT
CONTRIBUTING, I DO NOT WANT TO
INSULT ANYONE WHO COMES WITH THE
IDEA OF HELPING AMERICA.
THAT MEANS WHEREVER THEY'VE COME
FROM, AFRICA, IRAN AND
IF THEY COME FOR A GOOD REASON,
THROUGH THE DIVERSITY VISA, TO
REUNITE WITH THEIR FAMILY, THAT
IS THE AMERICAN WAY.
IMMIGRATION BY LAW, THAT IS THE
MR. SPEAKER, I'M
TO THE VERY
PATIENT MEMBER FROM TEXAS, MR.
HINOJOSA, 1 1/2 MINUTES.
THE
GENTLEMAN FROM TEXAS.
MR. SPEAKER, MR.
SPEAKER, I RISE TO STRONGLY
OPPOSE H.R. 6429, THE REPUBLICAN
STEM PROPOSAL, BEFORE THE HOUSE
TODAY UNDER SUSPENSION OF THE
RULES.
AS THE RANKING MEMBER OF THE
SUBCOMMITTEE ON HIGHER EDUCATION
AND WORK FORCE AND VICE CHAIR OF
THE CONGRESSIONAL HISPANIC
CAUCUS, I URGE MY COLLEAGUES ON
BOTH SIDES OF THE AISLE, I URGE
MY COLLEAGUES TO JOIN ME AND
MEMBERS OF THE CONGRESSIONAL
HISPANIC CAUCUS, THE
CONGRESSIONAL BLACK CAUCUS, AND
THE ASIAN AMERICAN CAUCUS, IN
STRONGLY OPPOSING THIS
REPUBLICAN STEM PROPOSAL,
MISGUIDED LEGISLATION THAT WOULD
CURTAIL LEGAL IMMIGRATION TO THE
UNITED STATES.
AS A PROUD CO-SPONSOR OF THIS
BILL, I SUPPORT THIS LEGISLATION
BECAUSE IT WOULD ALLOW ADVANCED
STEM GRADUATES TO REMAIN IN THE
UNITED STATES AND CONTRIBUTE TO
OUR NATION'S SCIENTIFIC
DISCOVERY AND TECHNOLOGICAL
INNOVATION, INCREASING OUR
NATION'S GLOBAL COMPETITIVENESS.
THIS BILL REDUCES BACKLOGS FOR
STEM DEGREE RECIPIENTS BY
RETAINING CRITICAL TALENT AND
CREATING A NEW GREEN CARD
CATEGORY FOR PERSONS WITH
FROM RESEARCH UNIVERSITIES IN
THE UNITED STATES, I MUST
UNDERSCORE THAT THIS SCORE DOES
NOT ELIMINATE OR WEAKEN OUR
IMMIGRATION PROGRAMS TO INCREASE
STEM VISAS.
THIS BILL TARGETS ONLY THE BEST
AND THE BRIGHTEST FOREIGN
STUDENTS, UNLIKE THE REPUBLICAN
PROPOSAL THIS LEGISLATION, H.R.
6412, DOES NOT ALLOW FOREIGN
GRADUATES OF FOR-PROFIT COLLEGES
OR RECEIVE STEM VISAS INCLUDING
DEGREES EARNED BY MAIL OR OVER
THE INTERNET.
IN CLOSING, I URGE MY COLLEAGUES
TO STRENGTHEN OUR NATION'S
GLOBAL COMPETITIVENESS AND I
YIELD BACK THE BALANCE OF MY
THE
GENTLEMAN YIELDS BACK THE
THE CHAIR WOULD ADVISE BOTH
SIDES, THE GENTLEMAN FROM TEXAS
STILL HAS 41 FOURTS MINUTES AND
GENTLEMAN FROM -- 4 1/4
MINUTES AND THE GENTLEMAN FROM
MICHIGAN HAS 45 SECONDS.
I YIELD TO THE
GENTLEMAN FROM ARIZONA.
THE
GENTLEMAN FROM ARIZONA.
I THANK THE GENTLEMAN
FOR YIELDING.
MR. SPEAKER, I RISE IN STRONG
SUPPORT OF THE STEM JOBS ACT.
AFTER THE PAST THREE CONGRESSES,
I HAVE WORKED ON THIS ISSUE WITH
THE INTRODUCTION OF THE STAPLE
ACT, WHICH WOULD DO MUCH THE
SAME THAT THIS BILL DOES, AS
WELL AS SUPPORT FOR OTHER PIECES
OF LEGISLATION THAT DO WHAT THIS
PIECE OF LEGISLATION DOES.
WHICH IS ALLOW THOSE WHO ARE
TRAINED AT OUR UNIVERSITIES HERE
TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE U.S.
ECONOMY.
WE ALL KNOW THAT IT'S NOT
GOVERNMENT THAT CREATES JOBS,
THE JOB OF GOVERNMENT IS TO
ENABLE THE PRIVATE SECTOR TO
I CAN THINK OF NO BETTER WATHAN
TO ALLOW THE PRIVATE SECTOR --
WAY THAN TO ALLOW THE PRIVATE
SECTOR ACCESS TO THOSE WHO HAVE
BEEN TRAINED AT OUR UNIVERSITIES
TO STAY HERE AND HELP CREATE
THIS IS A GOOD PIECE OF
IT'S ONE OF THE FEW PIECES OF
IMMIGRATION LEGISLATION THAT HAS
BIPARTISAN SUPPORT.
I URGE ITS ADOPTION AND YIELD
THE
GENTLEMAN'S TIME HAS EXPIRED.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM -- DOES THE
GENTLEMAN FROM MICHIGAN WISH TO
RESERVE HIS 0 SECONDS TO CLOSE?
I RESERVE.
THE
GENTLEMAN FROM TEXAS.
I YIELD TO THE
GENTLEMAN FROM CALIFORNIA, MR.
ROYCE, WHO IS ALSO CHAIRMAN OF
THE FOREIGN AFFAIRS TERRORISM
SUBCOMMITTEE.
MR. SPEAKER, I URGE
MY COLLEAGUES TO SUPPORT THE
STEMS JOB ACT.
IT IS TIME TO ALTER THE CURRENT
IMMIGRATION SYSTEM, IT IS TIME
TO SUBSTANTIALLY INCREASE THE
PROPORTION OF NEW ENTRANTS WITH
SKILLS.
TODAY WE ARE EDUCATING MANY OF
THE BEST AND BRIGHTEST FROM
AROUND THE WORLD AND THEN
IRONICALLY WE'RE SENDING THEM
COMPETITORS.
SKILLED IMMIGRANTS CAN
CONTRIBUTE TO A RISING U.S.
STANDARD OF LIVING.
THEY BRING CAPITAL, THEY BRING
AND THEY PRODUCE NEW COMPANIES.
AND WITH THIS BILL WE CAN HELP
GROW INNOVATION, WE CAN CREATE
JOBS IN THE U.S., WE'VE GOT
PLENTY OF EXAMPLES OF I.T. FIRMS
IN CALIFORNIA THAT ARE FOUNDED
BY IMMIGRANTS FROM CHINA AND
INDIA, THAT WERE EDUCATED IN OUR
INSTITUTIONS.
LET'S PASS THIS BILL AND HELP
OUR ECONOMY GROW AND I YIELD
BACK.
THE
THE GENTLEMAN FROM TEXAS.
MR. SPEAKER, I YIELD
45 SECONDS TO THE GENTLEMAN FROM
PENNSYLVANIA, MR. ALTMIRE, WHO
IS A MEMBER OF THE EDUCATION AND
WORK FORCE COMMITTEE.
THE
GENTLEMAN FROM PENNSYLVANIA.
MR. SPEAKER, WHILE
I WOULD HAVE PREFERRED THE
LOFGREN APPROACH, I RISE IN
SUPPORT OF THE STEM JOBS ACT
BECAUSE IT'S CRITICAL TO KEEPING
AMERICA COMPETITIVE IN THE
GLOBAL ECONOMY.
THE UNITED STATES HAS THE BEST
INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER EDUCATION
IN THE WORLD, PARTICULARLY WHEN
IT COMES TO THE STEM FIELDS.
YET U.S. BUSINESSES FREQUENTLY
EXPRESS CONCERNS OVER THE
AVAILABILITY OF QUALIFIED
WORKERS TO PERFORM JOBS THAT ARE
AVAILABLE AND NEED TO BE FILLED
ONCE WE EDUCATE AND TRAIN THESE
STUDENTS FOR JOBS, WE SEND THEM
BACK TO THEIR HOME COUNTRIES TO
COMPETE AGAINST US.
THIS SIMPLY MAKES NO SENSE.
AND BY PASSING THIS BILL WE WILL
THAT THE BEST AND
BRIGHTEST IN THE WORLD AREN'T
WORKING FOR OUR COMPETITORS
ABROAD, BUT THAT AMERICA KEEPS
THAT TALENT HERE AT HOME AND
THEY PLAY ON OUR TEAM INSTEAD OF
COMPETING AGAINST US.
I YIELD BACK MY TIME.
THE
GENTLEMAN FROM TEXAS HAS 1 3/4
MINUTES REMAINING.
MR. SPEAKER, I WILL
YIELD ONE MINUTE TO THE
GENTLEMAN FROM CALIFORNIA, MR.
LUNGREN, WHO IS THE CHAIRMAN OF
THE HOUSE ADMINISTRATION
COMMITTEE, AND A SENIOR MEMBER
OF THE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE.
THE
GENTLEMAN FROM CALIFORNIA.
LET'S REMEMBER
WHERE WE ARE.
UP UNTIL 1965, WE HAD A QUOTA
SYSTEM THAT ESSENTIALLY GAVE
ADVANTAGES TO CERTAIN COUNTRIES
TO GET THEIR PEOPLE IN HERE
VERSUS OTHERS.
WE REMOVED THAT IN 1965, WENT
TO A WORLDWIDE QUOTA SYSTEM
BASED ON THE FACT THAT EVERYONE
IN THE WORLD WOULD HAVE AN
EQUAL OPPORTUNITY TO GET TO THE
UNITED STATES BASED ON THEIR
TALENT AND REASON FOR COMING
1981, THERE WAS A CRY
THAT WE WEREN'T GETTING ENOUGH
IRISH PEOPLE IN HERE.
SO TIP O'NEILL -- I WAS HERE ON
THE FLOOR.
TIP O'NEILL AND TED KENNEDY PUT
TOGETHER A DIVERSITY PROGRAM.
AND IT PASSED AND ONLY THE
IRISH KNEW ABOUT IT.
THEN WE CHANGED IT AND LET ONLY
CERTAIN COUNTRIES IN.
WE'RE GOING BACK TO A COUNTRY
QUOTA SYSTEM.
I WOULD SAY THAT MOST
AFRICAN-AMERICAN IMMIGRANTS TO
THE U.S. DON'T COME FROM THE
DIVERSITY PROGRAM.
JUST 3,000 FROM NIGH JEER ALONE
WOULD BE ABLE TO PARTICIPATE IN
THIS.
WE'RE
AT 30 SECONDS AND 45 SECONDS.
I YIELD THE
BALANCE OF OUR TIME OUR OUR
SIDE TO THE DISTINGUISHED
GENTLELADY FROM CALIFORNIA, ZOE
LOFGREN.
THE
GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED.
THIS IS A
DISAPPOINTING DAY AT A TIME
WHEN WE LOOK FOR LEADERSHIP ON
THE PART OF THE MAJORITY TO
BRING US TOGETHER, INSTEAD WE
US.
WE HAVE 54 CO-SPONSORS ON THE
BILL THAT WE'VE INTRODUCED, THE
REMARKABLE THING IS THAT WE
HAVE SUPPORT ACROSS THE ENTIRE
BREADTH OF THE DEMOCRATIC
CAUCUS FOR STEM VISAS.
THESE THINGS THAT HAVE BEEN
SAID ABOUT THE DIVERSITY VISA
TODAY ARE SIMPLY WRONG.
THEY REMIND ME OF THE WARNINGS
WE GOT A SHORT WHILE AGO ABOUT
THE TERROR BABIES WHO WOULD
SOMEHOW EMERGE AFTER 21 YEARS.
IT'S ABSURD.
WE NEED TO VOTE AGAINST THIS
BILL BUT I THINK WE CAN QUICKLY
RECONVENE AND GET TO THE
BIPARTISAN EFFORT THAT THIS
COUNTRY DESERVES.
I YIELD BACK.
ALL
TIME HAS EXPIRED.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM TEXAS HAS 45
I YIELD MYSELF THE
BALANCE OF MY TIME.
THE
GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED.
SMITH: MR. SPEAKER, THE
STEMS JOBS ACT BOOSTS ECONOMIC
GROWTH AND SPURS JOB CREATION
BY ENABLING AMERICAN EMPLOYERS
TO HIRE THE BEST AND BRIGHTEST
FOREIGN STUDENTS WHO GRADUATE
FROM AMERICAN UNIVERSITYS.
THE AMERICAN PUBLIC, AMERICAN
EMPLOYERS, AND THE HIGH TECH
COMMUNITY ALL SUPPORT THIS
BIPARTISAN PIECE OF
LEGISLATION.
I URGE MY COLLEAGUES TO VOTE
FOR JOBS, VOTE FOR INNOVATION
AND VOTE FOR ECONOMIC GROWTH.
LET'S PUT THE INTERESTS OF
AMERICA FIRST.
THE
GENTLEMAN YIELDS BACK HIS TIME.
ALL TIME HAS EXPIRE THE
QUESTION IS, WILL THE HOUSE
SUSPEND THE RULES AND PASS H R.
6429.
THOSE OPPOSED, NO.
IN THE OPINION OF THE CHAIR,
2/3'S OF THOSE BEING IN THE
AFFIRMATIVE -- THE GENTLEMAN
FROM MICHIGAN.
MR. SPEAKER, I ASK
FOR THE YEAS AND NAYS.
THE
YEAS AND NAYS ARE REQUESTED.
THOSE IN FAVOR OF TAKING THIS
VOTE BY THE YEAS AND NAYS WILL
RISE AND REMAIN STANDING UNTIL
A SUFFICIENT NUMBER HAVING
RISEN, THE YEAS AND NAYS ARE
ORDERED.
PURSUANT TO CLAUSE 8 OF RULE
FURTHER PROCEEDINGS ON THIS
MOTION WILL BE POSTPONED.
PURSUANT TO CLAUSE 8 OF RULE
20, PROCEEDINGS WILL NOW RESUME
ON QUESTIONS PREVIOUSLY
POSTPONED.
VOTES WILL BE TAKEN IN THE
FOLLOWING ORDER.
PASSAGE OF HOUSE JOINT
RESOLUTION 118.
THE MOTION TO SUSPEND THE RULES
AND PASS H.R. 6429.
AND THE MOTION TO SUSPEND THE
RULES AND PASS H.R. 5987.
THE FIRST ELECTRONIC VOTE WILL
BE CONDUCTED AS A 15-MINUTE
VOTE.
REMAINING ELECTRONIC VOTES
VOTES.
THE UNFINISHED BUSINESS IS THE
VOTE ON THE PASSAGE OF HOUSE
JOINT RESOLUTION 118 ON WHICH
THE YEAS AND NAYS WERE ORDERED.
THE CLERK WILL REPORT THE TITLE
OF THE JOINT RESOLUTION.
UNION CALENDAR
NUMBER 489, HOUSE JOINT
RESOLUTION 118.
RES. LOSING -- RESOLUTION
PROVIDING FOR THE CONGRESSIONAL
UNDER CHAPTER 8 OF
TITLE 5, UNITED STATES CODE, OF
THE RULE SUBMITTED BY THE
OFFICE OF FAMILY ASSISTANCE OF
THE ADMINISTRATION FOR CHILDREN
AND FAMILIES OF THE DEPARTMENT
OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
RELATING TO WAIVER AND
EXPENDITURE AUTHORITY UNDER
SECTION 1115 OF THE SOCIAL
SECURITY ACT 42 U.S.C. 1315
WITH RESPECT TO THE TEMPORARY
ASSISTANCE FOR NEEDY FAMILIES
PROGRAM.
THE
QUESTION IS ON PASSAGE OF THE
RESOLUTION.
MEMBERS WILL RECORD THEIR VOTES
BY ELECTRONIC DEVICE.
THIS IS A 15-MINUTE VOTE,
FOLLOWED BY TWO FIVE-MINUTE
VOTES.
[CAPTIONING MADE POSSIBLE BY
THE NATIONAL CAPTIONING
INSTITUTE, INC., IN COOPERATION
WITH THE UNITED STATES HOUSE OF
ANY USE OF THE CLOSED-CAPTIONED
COVERAGE OF THE HOUSE
PROCEEDINGS FOR POLITICAL OR
EXPRESSLY PROHIBITED BY THE
REPRESENTATIVES.]
ON
THIS VOTE THE YEAS ARE 250.
THE NAYS ARE 164.
THE JOINT RESOLUTION IS PASSED.
WITHOUT OBJECTION, THE MOTION
TO RECONSIDER IS LAID ON THE
TABLE.
THE UNFINISHED BUSINESS IS THE
VOTE ON THE MOTION FROM THE
GENTLEMAN FROM TEXAS, MR.
SMITH, TO SUSPEND THE RULES AND
PASS H.R. 6429 ON WHICH THE
YEAS AND NAYS WERE ORDERED.
THE CLERK WILL REPORT THE TITLE
H.R. 6429, A BILL TO
AMEND THE IMMIGRATION AND
NATIONALITY ACT TO PROMOTE
RESEARCH IN THE UNITED STATES,
TO ELIMINATE THE DIVERSITY
IMMIGRANT PROGRAM, AND FOR
OTHER PURPOSES.
THE
QUESTION IS WILL THE HOUSE
SUSPEND THE RULES AND PASS THE
MEMBERS WILL RECORD THEIR VOTES
BY ELECTRONIC DEVICE.
THIS WILL BE A FIVE-MINUTE
VOTE.
[CAPTIONING MADE POSSIBLE BY
THE NATIONAL CAPTIONING
INSTITUTE, INC., IN COOPERATION
WITH THE UNITED STATES HOUSE OF
ANY USE OF THE CLOSED-CAPTIONED
COVERAGE OF THE HOUSE
PROCEEDINGS FOR POLITICAL OR
COMMERCIAL PURPOSES IS
EXPRESSLY PROHIBITED BY THE
REPRESENTATIVES.]
ON
THIS VOTE THE YEAS ARE 257.
THE NAYS ARE 158.
2/3 OF THOSE NOT RESPONDING IN
THE AFFIRMATIVE, THE RULES ARE
NOT SUSPENDED AND THE BILL IS
NOT PASSED.
THE UNFINISHED BUSINESS IS THE
VOTE ON THE MOTION OF THE
GENTLEMAN FROM WASHINGTON, MR.
HASTINGS, TO SUSPEND THE RULES
AND PASS H.R. 5987, AS AMENDED,
ON WHICH THE YEAS AND NAYS ARE
ORDERED.
THE CLERK WILL REPORT THE TITLE
OF THE BILL.
H.R. 5987, A BILL TO
ESTABLISH THE MANHATTAN PROJECT
NATIONAL HISTORIC PARK IN OAK
RIDGE, TENNESSEE, LOWS ALAMOS,
NEW MEXICO, AND HAMFORD,
WASHINGTON, AND FOR OTHER
QUESTION IS WILL THE HOUSE
SUSPEND THE RULES AND PASS THE
BILL, AS AMENDED.
MEMBERS WILL RECORD THEIR VOTES
BY ELECTRONIC DEVICE.
THIS WILL BE A FIVE-MINUTE
VOTE.
[CAPTIONING MADE POSSIBLE BY
THE NATIONAL CAPTIONING
INSTITUTE, INC., IN COOPERATION
WITH THE UNITED STATES HOUSE OF
ANY USE OF THE CLOSED-CAPTIONED
COVERAGE OF THE HOUSE
PROCEEDINGS FOR POLITICAL OR
COMMERCIAL PURPOSES IS
EXPRESSLY PROHIBITED BY THE
REPRESENTATIVES.]
THE
YEAS ARE 237 AND THE NAYS ARE
180, 2/3 NOT BEING IN THE
AFFIRMATIVE, THE RULES ARE NOT
SUSPENDED AND THE BILL IS NOT
PASSED.