Robert Holleyman, BSA: Immigration Innovation Act is Outstanding

January 31, 2013

The Software Alliance welcomed legislation introduced in the US Senate to help American companies recruit and retain the world’s most talented scientists and engineers while bridging a technology skills gap in the labor market and powering America’s economic recovery.

In a letter to the bill’s sponsors, and in the midst of a growing debate on comprehensive immigration reform, BSA praised the Immigration Innovation Act of 2013 (known as I2) as much-needed improvement to the immigration and education systems specifically designed to attract and nurture the best technical talent to drive innovation in the United States.

The I2 bill was introduced Tuesday by Sens. Orrin Hatch (R-Utah), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), and Chris Coons (D-Del.). It would increase the available number of H-1B work visas, authorize the use of unclaimed “green card” numbers, and raise funding levels for education and training programs in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) subjects to boost the number of technically qualified workers in key industries.

“This is outstanding legislation to start off the new Congress,” said BSA President and CEO Robert Holleyman. “It provides real solutions to real challenges facing the software industry while benefiting the US economy as a whole. By helping the IT sector retain the best and brightest talent, we’ll be more productive, and by fueling STEM education in America’s schools, we’ll have more home-grown talent in the coming years.”