http://www.washingtonwatch.com/bills info@washingtonwatch.com http://www.pjdoland.com/chai/?v=0.1 http://www.washingtonwatch.com/bills/show/111_HR_1791.html#133133 It is not hitting the house floor anytime soon. It seems like the health care reform is going to take all the time left this year and may be early next year. However, it is encouraging that there are not 4 co-sponsors to the bill. Jeff Flake should be encouraged to go ahead full throttle on this one. The usefulness of writing to your representative cannot be under estimated. Fax or email or call is the best way to let them know you care. Post-docs and graduate student organizations would be the best bet for this. National postdoctoral association can be contacted.... 133133@http://www.washingtonwatch.com Tue, 10 Nov 2009 00:00:00 EST http://www.washingtonwatch.com/bills/show/111_HR_1791.html#130544 When will we know if this bill pass or not?... 130544@http://www.washingtonwatch.com Sat, 07 Nov 2009 00:00:00 EST http://www.washingtonwatch.com/bills/show/111_HR_1791.html#130683 I'm afraid all we can hope at this point is that the bill will be part of next year immigration reform. I do not see any signal it will hit the floor of the Congress any time soon.... 130683@http://www.washingtonwatch.com Sat, 07 Nov 2009 00:00:00 EST http://www.washingtonwatch.com/bills/show/111_HR_1791.html#111891 support "Staple act " http://apps.facebook.com/causes/322741?m=a9753488... 111891@http://www.washingtonwatch.com Tue, 27 Oct 2009 00:00:00 EDT http://www.washingtonwatch.com/bills/show/111_HR_1791.html#107174 Hello everyone, can we make a mailing list and organize some support for this. A facebook group would work wonders. This is the only time we can get this thing done, immigration reform is around the corner. Lets get going Junta... and get the graduate student bodies involved. All the PhDs if you take one step to support this start with your own international graduate student societies and get their support. Write to your congressman and senator. PLEASE WORK A LITTLE FOR THIS ONE..... 107174@http://www.washingtonwatch.com Fri, 23 Oct 2009 00:00:00 EDT http://www.washingtonwatch.com/bills/show/111_HR_1791.html#77461 If you're looking for reasons to puff out your chest and take pride in being American, then take note that all six Nobel Prize winners announced so far this week are U.S. citizens. Here's something else you should know: Four of those winners were born outside the U.S. ... According to statistics from the National Science Foundation released in February, foreign-born science and engineering students in 2003 earned one-third of all Ph.D.s awarded in the U.S. And the study noted that "those who do decide to finish advanced study in the United States overwhelmingly choose to stay in the country after earning their advanced degrees." from ... http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_13500107 ... Nobel prizes remind us why immigration matters... 77461@http://www.washingtonwatch.com Wed, 07 Oct 2009 00:00:00 EDT http://www.washingtonwatch.com/bills/show/111_HR_1791.html#78506 One more reason why the STEM bill is a good idea. So far of the 8 Americans 2009 Nobel laureates in Medicine, Physics and Chemistry 5 are foreign born naturalized citizens and 3 are native born.... 78506@http://www.washingtonwatch.com Wed, 07 Oct 2009 00:00:00 EDT http://www.washingtonwatch.com/bills/show/111_HR_1791.html#74145 support "Staple act " http://apps.facebook.com/causes/322741?m=a9753488... 74145@http://www.washingtonwatch.com Fri, 02 Oct 2009 00:00:00 EDT http://www.washingtonwatch.com/bills/show/111_HR_1791.html#74146 http://apps.facebook.com/causes/322741?m=a9753488... 74146@http://www.washingtonwatch.com Fri, 02 Oct 2009 00:00:00 EDT http://www.washingtonwatch.com/bills/show/111_HR_1791.html#67172 Hi, I hope that this bill is not losing momentum, and I think everybody who has a real interest in pushing it to the Congress Floor should actively support, by writing and calling their representatives. Also, if anyone has any information on the timeline - when it will be possible discussed - it would be great if she/he could update the rest of us, since, as we all know, time is critical in visa processes. Thank you all!... 67172@http://www.washingtonwatch.com Thu, 17 Sep 2009 00:00:00 EDT http://www.washingtonwatch.com/bills/show/111_HR_1791.html#66636 I have PhD from a US university, usually i am always busy in my research to write blogs, but since the time i have started worrying about my career, i have realized how frustrating my situation is. I like it here, i enjoy my research, there is always someting new to learn and an opportunity to impliment your ideas. Also i must mention, the great mentors of science from around the world who have settled here to guide you. I have completed my PhD, Now when i need to move on in my career, i see job requirements limited only to citizens and green card holders.Few more months of this kind of job searching i will be even more motivated to pack my bags and leave. I really don't understand why on one hand US spends so much time and money on us and then on the other, when we are ready to give back to the country's economy, they don't want us.This Law if passed will centainly help US, you really don't need a PhD to know that.... 66636@http://www.washingtonwatch.com Tue, 15 Sep 2009 00:00:00 EDT http://www.washingtonwatch.com/bills/show/111_HR_1791.html#65405 I am an Eastern European post-doc. I got my PhD in Biochemistry from a University of California campus after 5 years of hard work and a nonexistent personal life. In my opinion, the quality of PhDs depends on the field, not on the particular university: physics and math tend to be competitive and truly have exceptional students, while chemistry and biology are not demanding on quality; I have seen biology PhD students with a 3.0 GPA and GRE scores near 50th percentile. The reason is that not enough American students apply as they would rather go into something more profitable like bussiness, and US universities desperately need TAs and PhD student researchers. Personally, I have suffered so much due to the outdated US immigration system, that I will return to Europe and contribute to its re-emergence in becoming #1 once more; after all, Europe started the modern scientific revolution, and America is simply carrying on the torch. I love America though, so may the best continent win!... 65405@http://www.washingtonwatch.com Sat, 05 Sep 2009 00:00:00 EDT http://www.washingtonwatch.com/bills/show/111_HR_1791.html#65188 The U.S tax payers, U.S government and U.S funding agencies are spending roughly 250,000 USD for every International PhD student enrolled in U.S universities ( MORE THAN 80% are funded by the U.S universities). Now after graduation these internationals are asked to leave and serve other countries. Does this make any sense???? Why would you train some one, impart them with all the technical know how and then and ask them to leave?? These guys are the best in their fields. This bill is the first step in preventing talented folks from leaving America.... 65188@http://www.washingtonwatch.com Mon, 31 Aug 2009 00:00:00 EDT http://www.washingtonwatch.com/bills/show/111_HR_1791.html#64960 Is anybody aware of a possible timeline regarding this issue? My impression is that if it does not pass within the end of the year, the STAPLE act will have to wait the immigration reform bill to hope to be approved, who knows in which form.... 64960@http://www.washingtonwatch.com Tue, 25 Aug 2009 00:00:00 EDT http://www.washingtonwatch.com/bills/show/111_HR_1791.html#64907 Nanci Pelosi says that she is "for it" but "against it" when considered alone. She wants to combine it with comprehensive immigration reform bill. Poor choice? Lacking in vision? What do you think? Anyway, see the link below for full details. Here is a short snippet from that link: Q: Do you favor making foreign students with newly minted Ph.D.s from U.S. universities eligible for green cards? Nancu Pelosi: Yes, I'm for that--we want to staple a green card to those diplomas. And I think we have a chance to do it as part of a comprehensive immigration reform bill. But not on its own. http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/full/324/5923/24?maxtoshow=&HITS=10&hits=10&RESULTFORMAT=&fulltext=pelocy nancy&searchid=1&FIRSTINDEX=0&resourcetype=HWCIT... 64907@http://www.washingtonwatch.com Mon, 24 Aug 2009 00:00:00 EDT http://www.washingtonwatch.com/bills/show/111_HR_1791.html#63501 Pramila Jayapal (http://blog.seattlepi.com/pramilajayapal/) seems like an activist with related focus. She was part of Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano's closed-door session today. We can work on preparing some discussion points and documents to send to these organizations. NYIC (http://www.thenyic.org/content.asp?sid=4) may or may not be interested, however they do have a working group on CIR. Facebook, Twitter, are all welcome .. please crate a group and post link here.... 63501@http://www.washingtonwatch.com Thu, 30 Jul 2009 00:00:00 EDT http://www.washingtonwatch.com/bills/show/111_HR_1791.html#63477 Is there a Facebook entry (like fan of ) for this bill ?... 63477@http://www.washingtonwatch.com Wed, 29 Jul 2009 00:00:00 EDT http://www.washingtonwatch.com/bills/show/111_HR_1791.html#63386 Up until today I have been one of those people that are unaware of this bill. I am going to contact my local congressman office ASAP. We should email all of our friends to make them aware of the bill.... 63386@http://www.washingtonwatch.com Tue, 28 Jul 2009 00:00:00 EDT http://www.washingtonwatch.com/bills/show/111_HR_1791.html#63387 Up until today I have been one of those people that are unaware of this bill. I am going to contact my local congressman office ASAP. We should email all of our friends to make them aware of the bill.... 63387@http://www.washingtonwatch.com Tue, 28 Jul 2009 00:00:00 EDT http://www.washingtonwatch.com/bills/show/111_HR_1791.html#63436 yes, I have prepared a set of 7 slides that took with me in the form of print. It helped me prepare my thoughts and channel the discussion with the congressman. If you are interested in the slide set- please email me at hr1791@gmail.com... 63436@http://www.washingtonwatch.com Tue, 28 Jul 2009 00:00:00 EDT http://www.washingtonwatch.com/bills/show/111_HR_1791.html#63437 That is the best one can do. Just make more people aware of it. If not now, the immigration reform bill is around the corner (if healthcare bill ever gets resolved)- this should make it there. We can try!... 63437@http://www.washingtonwatch.com Tue, 28 Jul 2009 00:00:00 EDT http://www.washingtonwatch.com/bills/show/111_HR_1791.html#63341 Thanks for the email template. A few of us (PhDs in different STEM majors) are trying to organize meetings with our local representative. Would you be able to share information docket that you prepared before the meeting? Thanks.... 63341@http://www.washingtonwatch.com Mon, 27 Jul 2009 00:00:00 EDT http://www.washingtonwatch.com/bills/show/111_HR_1791.html#63105 Re: H.R. 1791: STAPLE Act Dear Mr. ******, Happy Monday! Let me introduce myself. I am a citizen of India and received my education in the US. Currently, I am on the work visa (H1B) sponsored by the US Government. I was wondering if I can have an opportunity to discuss H.R. 1791: STAPLE Act with you. This bill has considerable significance to the current economy and the future of the US. The bill is intended to Stopping Trained in America Ph.D.s From Leaving the Economy. I am certainly one of those trained here and believe that the Howard County has considerable talent pool that may be benefited by this bill. In turn, the county as well as the country has a lot to gain as well. Note that a similar bill was proposed by Rep. Lofgren [D-CA]--H.R. 6039-- with several sponsors. I am contemplating in organizing a structured support. Would you be kind enough to spend a few minutes to discuss this bill and potential actions? Sincerely,... 63105@http://www.washingtonwatch.com Wed, 22 Jul 2009 00:00:00 EDT http://www.washingtonwatch.com/bills/show/111_HR_1791.html#62896 It would help a lot, if someone can provide a template for emailing to the local representatives. Most of us are too busy to think about what to write and spend time drafting a nice pointed letter.... 62896@http://www.washingtonwatch.com Mon, 20 Jul 2009 00:00:00 EDT http://www.washingtonwatch.com/bills/show/111_HR_1791.html#62557 This is a well thought bill and in equal favor of highest qualified US Non Residential ALIENS and or H1B workers as well as American Tax payers.... 62557@http://www.washingtonwatch.com Tue, 14 Jul 2009 00:00:00 EDT