7/29/2019 Coalition Letter in support of the Immigration Innovation Act

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February 5, 2013

The Honorable Bob GoodlatteHouse Committee on the Judiciary2138 Rayburn House Office Building

Washington, DC 20515

Dear Chairman Goodlatte,

We write to urge your colleagues to support the ImmigrationInnovation Act of 2013.America's immigration system is in need ofreform, especially with respect to highly-skilled foreign workers. TheImmigration Innovation Act will keep American businessescompetitive by giving them access to high-skilled labor for jobs they areunable to fill with native-born workers. And it will jumpstart thedomestic high-skilled labor supply by investing in American science,technology, engineering, and math (STEM) education.

This bill would increase the cap on H-1B visas for highly-skilledworkers from 65,000 to 115,000, and allow that cap to adjust up ordown based on the labor demands of the economy. It would alsouncap the H-1B exemption for those with advanced U.S. degrees. Andit would expand access to green cards for people with advanced STEMdegrees, dependents of those with employment based visas, andoutstanding professors and researchers.

Allowing more high-skilled immigration is one of the most importantsteps we can take to improve America's economy and maintain its

global competitiveness. As nations like China and India are growing atbreakneck speed, it is imperative that the American economy beallowed to innovate and grow. High-skilled immigrants play an integralrole in that growth; Immigrants are 30 percent more likely to start anew business than native-born Americans, and newly formedbusinesses are responsible for the vast majority of new jobs created.When America turns away a potential investor, entrepreneur, or jobcreator, that person does not simply cease to exist. She returns to herown country and starts a business that competes directly withAmerican companies. And she hires citizens of her own countryinstead of Americans.

There are currently over 80,000 technology jobs in the U.S. that areavailable to Americans but remain unfilled. In the long run, it isimportant to emphasize domestic STEM education to better prepareAmericans for the jobs of the future. But in the meantime, welcomingmore highly-skilled workers to our shores makes perfect sense. Weurge your support of the Immigration Innovation Act of 2013.

7/29/2019 Coalition Letter in support of the Immigration Innovation Act

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Sincerely,

Grover Norquist, President, Americans for Tax ReformAl Cardenas, Chairman, American Conservative Union

R. Bruce Josten, Executive Vice President of Government Affairs, USChamber of CommerceDavid Bier, Immigration Policy Analyst, Competitive EnterpriseInstituteBrian Burch, President, Catholic VoteChuck Muth, President, Citizen OutreachMario H. Lopez, President, Hispanic Leadership FundAlfonso Aguilar, Executive Director, Latino Partnership forConservative PrinciplesRick Watson, Chairman, Florida Center-Right CoalitionAndrew Moylan, Senior Fellow, R Street InstituteKaren Kerrigan, President & CEO, Small Business and

Entrepreneurship CouncilStephen DeMaura, President, Americans for Job SecurityHector Barreto, Chairman, The Latino CoalitionJim Martin, Chairman, 60 Plus AssociationJeff Mazella, President, Center for Individual FreedomDavid Williams, President, Taxpayers Protection Alliance