As a follow-up to our discussion of the Senate Immigration Reform bill and the provisions related to temporary visas for high-skilled and low-skilled workers, today’s blog will focus on the amendments proposed during the Senate Judiciary Committee’s debate of these provisions.
During yesterday’s Senate Judiciary Committee mark-up session, the Gang of Eight managed to stand behind key provisions of the immigration reform bill related to the H-1B visa program for temporary high skilled workers. The Committee took votes on amendments for both expanding and limiting the H-1B visa program. One of the amendments proposing to raise the cap to 325,000 failed by a vote of 4-14. An amendment requiring the audit of at least 1% of H-1B petitions also failed by a large margin of 2-16.
Among the amendments that did make it out of Committee was a proposal submitted by Senator Grassley requiring additional information in Internet job postings for employment required for H-1B visas, as well as Senator Hatch’s amendment to increase the labor certification fee proposed by the bill to improve STEM education and training in the United States.
We will continue to monitor the debates of the Senate Judiciary Committee as additional amendments to the H-1B visa program will be discussed tomorrow.
Mooers Immigration has long been engaged in Comprehensive Immigration Reform, responding to Congressional inquiries on policy and law issues. We are regularly asked to assist elected officials and their staff to understand both the benefits and consequences of various proposals for reform.
