S. 2839 would provide emergency relief for United States businesses and industries currently employing temporary foreign workers and for other purposes.
Detailed Summary
Global Competitiveness Act of 2008 - Amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to extend the annual cap exemption for returning H-2B aliens (temporary nonagricultural workers).
Revises H-1B nonimmigrant visa (specialty occupation) provisions regarding: (1) recapture of unused visas (including a recapture fee); (2) visa increases and increases for exemptions from numerical limitations for aliens with higher education degrees; (3) increased employer petition fees; (4) employer restrictions on outsourcing, advertising, and hiring; and (5) enforcement, information sharing, and labor application penalty increases.
Amends the American Competitiveness in the Twenty-first Century Act of 2000 regarding: (1) recapture of unused employment-based immigrant visas and redistribution to specified employment categories, including nurses and physical therapists; and (2) a recapture fee (with an exemption for certain health care facilities).
Increases the annual limit for National Science Foundation low-income scholarships.
Revises L-visa (intracompany transfer) provisions regarding: (1) Department of Homeland Security (DHS) authority to investigate employer fraud; (2) whistleblower protections; and (3) limitations on approval of start-up company petitions.
Authorizes (with a supplemental fee) early status adjustment filing for certain employment-based immigrants.
Obligates funds from the H-1B Nonimmigrant Petitioner Account for programs under the Jacob K. Javits Gifted and Talented Students Education Act of 2001.
Amends the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1966 to extend the E-Verify program.
Status of the Legislation
Latest Major Action: 4/10/2008: Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
Points in Favor
(Log in to edit the wiki and be the first to show why the bill should pass!)
Points Against
(Log in to edit the wiki and be the first to show why the bill should not pass!)
Visitor Comments
astro
I think this is a good bill. It has a little bit of everything for everyone for those undergoing LEGAL IMMIGRATION.
Hope this bill passes and the similar bills in the House as well.
hope
I hope this bill will pass. I am tired of election bickering, which makes no sense.
My American classmate ALL have multiple job offers line up. And they all support work visa program. I don't buy the argument that foreigner steal jobs from Americans. Citizens from sh*tty schools of course cannot compete with people from MIT and Stanford, which makes sense.
CS Degree Holder
I think the bought and paid for congress needs to go a head and pass this bill. I want to see the number of CS students half again over the next 5 years. Maybe then some of the CS departments will just close down.
Canadian
Senate will scrape this bill. Microsoft and several other tech firms have opened business here in Vancouver. More business will come if the visa program did not go through. I am so tired of American bragging its Silicon Valley, etc.
James
This is a HORRIBLE bill. America does not need more Foreign workers. We have more than enough skilled American workers trying to get jobs now, but unable to because corporations hire foreign workers at half the salary to do the same job. Congress should be trying to LIMIT the number of foreign workers not increase it. Americans need jobs first. This bill undercuts American wages and makes it even more difficult for American degreed workers to get good jobs. Congress, vote NO on Senate bill 2839.
William Rhodes
Texas Senator John Cornyn has his fingers on thsi Bill as a sponsor. How sad it is that he and every other Senator in Washington, elected to represent Americans, failed on every issue before them. Why John Cornyn and other Senators, as well the Congress, 'just don't get it' is beyond my understanding. Hey fellows...ITS AMERICANS FIRST..ALWAYS.
Many Americans are anticipating 2010 so that we can get rid of those in Washington who just will not do their jobs in Washington, for Americans..FIRST!
Blame ALL on these men and women whom you have elected, they have soldd you and I down the river. Ask, why is America experiencing the crises we face today...look to those elected to take care of AMERICANS. They know how to take care of themselves, once elected, right?
Awaken John Cornyn, you do not have TEXANS fooled here in your home State.
John D.
There aren't enough Americans to staff the high-tech and nursing positions. My sister's team at Verisign has 6 open positions. If you, William Rhodes, are an unemployed software professional, send me your resume'. Do you think America will magically sprout replacement nurses as the current crop retires? Believe me, if you could do the work, you'd have a job. John Cornyn is a patriot. I know things are hard for many segments of the labor force, but as a software professional, I am up to my eyeballs in job opportunities, and nurse wages continue rising fast. A lot of these jobs are going unfilled. That will cost you on your next doctor's visit. Shortages in some fields are real and as an AMERICAN I can only do one job at a time. We need SKILLED IMMIGRANT LABOR in specific job categories.
Namratha
This is a great opportunity for hard-working and skilled immigrants who are willing to contribute to the success of the US Economy.