Contact:
Chris McManes IEEE-USA Applauds Congress for Allowing H-1B Visa Cap to Drop, Calls For Renewal of Workforce Protections WASHINGTON (30 September 2003) — While applauding Congress for allowing the H-1B visa cap to drop to its historical level of 65,000 this Wednesday, IEEE-USA believes the $1,000 visa application fee, H-1B-dependent attestations and the Department of Labor's limited authority to investigate H-1B fraud and abuse need to be renewed and strengthened. The more than 900,000 H-1B visas issued in new, renewal and exempt categories since the beginning of FY 2000 has exacerbated high-tech unemployment in the United States, according to IEEE-USA. The unemployment rate for electrical and electronics engineers (EEs) rose to an unheard of 7 percent in the first quarter of 2003, and stood at 6.4 percent in the second quarter. A staggering 230,000 U.S. workers in 12 engineering and computer job classifications were unemployed in the second quarter, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. "We're pleased that Congress listened to its constituents — the thousands of jobless engineers, computer specialists and IT professionals — and chose to let the cap drop back," IEEE-USA President-Elect John Steadman said. "But we must remain vigilant because we're sure H-1B proponents will seek to increase the cap again next year." In addition to holding the cap at 65,000, IEEE-USA would like Congress to reinstate the $1,000 visa application fee and strengthen training for displaced engineers and high-tech professionals. IEEE-USA further believes that all U.S. companies petitioning for H-1B visas, not just H-1B-dependent companies, should attest that they have tried and been unable to hire U.S. workers, and that they have not displaced U.S. employees to hire an H-1B worker. IEEE-USA's Steadman recently testified before the Senate Judiciary Committee on the H-1B program. His testimony is available at www.ieeeusa.org/forum/issues/H1bvisa/index.html. IEEE-USA is an organizational unit of The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Inc., created in 1973 to advance the public good, while promoting the careers and public-policy interests of the more than 235,000 electrical, electronics, computer and software engineers who are U.S. members of the IEEE. The IEEE is the world's largest technical professional society. For more information, go to www.ieeeusa.org.
1828 L Street, N.W., Suite 1202 Washington, DC 20036-5104 Phone: 202-785-0017, Fax: 202-785-0835 | Top of Page | News Releases | IEEE News | IEEE | IEEE-USA | Last Updated: 30 September 2003 |