[May 02, 2006] SIA Urges Support for 'SKIL Bill'; Cornyn Bill Would Help High-Tech Industries Facing Shortage of Scientists and Engineers Tweet SAN JOSE, Calif. --(Business Wire)-- May 2, 2006 -- The Semiconductor Industry Association (SIA) today expressed strong support for S. 2691, legislation known as the "SKIL Bill" (Securing Knowledge Innovation and Leadership). The bill was introduced by Senator John Cornyn (R, TX) and co-sponsored by Senators George Allen (R, VA), Wayne Allard (R-CO), Robert Bennett (R-UT), Michael Enzi (R-WY), and Trent Lott (R-MS). The legislation has four main provisions supported by technology companies: -- It reforms both the H-1B visa and employment-based (EB) green card processes by exempting U.S.-educated foreign workers with advanced degrees from the H-1B and EB quotas. -- It creates a flexible, market-based H-1B cap. The current limits on such visas were reached in August 2005, preventing U.S. employers from utilizing H-1B visas to hire workers with critically needed advanced skills until October of 2006. -- It extends the optional post-curricular training program for foreign students to 24 months from the current 12 months. This provision would make it easier for skilled individuals to go from student to green card status. -- It exempts immigrant spouses and children of EB and green card workers from the annual cap, thus making more visas available for highly skilled workers. "America is simply not graduating enough scientists and engineers to keep our country in the forefront of innovation and technology," said SIA President George Scalise. "The provisions in Senator Cornyn's 'SKIL bill,' as well as similar provisions in the two versions of comprehensive immigration reform introduced by Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist and Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Arlen Specter, address our critical shortage of scientists and engineers. The Congress must quickly pass legislation to keep foreign-born, U.S. educated talent working for U.S. companies. Leadership in technology has been critical to driving economic growth, enhancing productivity, improving our standard of living, and ensuring national security. Leadership is not a birthright -- it must be earned, and it takes highly skilled scientists and engineers to earn leadership," Scalise concluded. About the SIA The SIA is the leading voice for the semiconductor industry and has represented U.S. semiconductor companies since 1977. Collectively, the chip industry employs a domestic workforce of 225,000 people. More information about the SIA can be found at www.sia-online.org. [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]