June 6, 2000

The Honorable Trent Lott
Majority Leader
S-230, The Capitol
Washington, DC 20510

The Honorable Thomas A. Daschle
Minority Leader
S-221, The Capitol
Washington, DC 20510

Dear Mr. Majority Leader:

We are writing to urge you to schedule S. 2045, The American Competitiveness in the 21st Century Act, for a vote as soon as possible.

Introduced by Senators Hatch and Abraham with very strong bipartisan support, quick passage and enactment of this bill is a top priority of our respective Associations that collectively represent tens of thousands of America's leading high-tech corporations. The bill would increase the numeric cap placed on visas for temporary highly skilled foreign workers (H-1B visas) and provide additional funding for education and training programs for US workers to join the information technology (IT) workforce.

The workforce studies recently released by the Information Technology Association of America (ITAA) and the American Electronics Association (AEA) clearly document the staffing crisis facing the IT industry. With over 840,000 IT jobs expected to go unfilled this year and more vacancies anticipated in future years, increasing the availability of highly skilled workers to American technology firms is one of the most positive steps Congress can take this year toward continuing the robust growth of the New Economy.

The current ceiling of 115,000 H-1B visas is woefully inadequate. Barely halfway through FY 2000, the INS announced that the ceiling had been hit and no additional visas would be available. S. 2045 would allow companies access to the technical expertise needed in the short term to drive business forward. It also would strengthen the American workforce by directing more dollars to education and training programs.

S. 2045 passed the Judiciary Committee on an overwhelming bipartisan vote. It would most likely pass the full Senate by a similar margin. IT companies need the ability to recruit more highly skilled workers if industry innovation and growth are to continue. Raising the cap on H-1B visas is the right thing to do for industry, shareholders and U.S. workers. Failure to pass the bill will result in lost sales, delayed projects and other threats to the global preeminence of the U.S. IT industry.

Bringing S. 2045 up for a vote in early June would be a yet another example of your ongoing commitment to strengthen the U.S. economy and improve opportunities for people throughout America. Thank you.

Sincerely,

William T. Archey
President, American Electronics Association

Edward J. Black
President, Computer & Communications Industry Association

Rhett B. Dawson
President, Information Technology Industry Council

Dan Heinemeier
President, Government Electronics and Information Technology Association

Roberta Katz
CEO, TechNet

Dave McCurdy
President, Electronic Industries Alliance

Harris Miller
President, Information Technology Association of America

George M. Scalise
President, Semiconductor Industry Association

Gary Shapiro
President, Consumer Electronics Association

Ken Wasch
President, Software & Information Industry Association

Robert Willis
President, Electronic Components, Assemblies and Materials Association