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Advocacy Alert: H-1Bs, E-Verify, and Economic Stimulus BillFiled Under: Advocacy, E-Verify

Calling your Senator can make a difference for H-1B workers and the economy

From AILA Advocacy Alerts (February 4, 2009):

The large Economic Stimulus Bill being debated in the Senate is now being threatened by 3 bad immigration amendments that will hurt immigrant workers and the economy. Immediate action must be taken against these amendments. Call your Senators NOW and tell them to oppose Senator Sanders’s H-1B amendment to bar banks from hiring H-1B workers and Senator Sessions’ 2 amendments that would require all businesses benefiting from the stimulus to use E-Verify.   Call Your Senators NOW!

Your Senior US Senator: 202-224-3121 ; Your Junior US Senator:  202-224-3121

Tell your Senators to:  Please OPPOSE the following amendments that will slow down the economy:

· Senator Sanders’ H-1b amendment, number 306, would prevent U.S. employers who are using TARP funds from accessing highly skilled, professional foreign talent that would allow them to stay competitive in the global marketplace. U.S. businesses who are trying desperately to recover financially MUST have access to specialty skills inside our country so that they can keep their businesses in the U.S. Otherwise, the entire nation’s economic recovery will be severely hobbled.

· Senator Sessions filed two amendments numbers 165 and 239 that require all businesses and other public or private “entities” that contract to receive money from the stimulus package to use the flawed federal Basic Pilot/E-Verify program. Making the E-Verify program mandatory will delay use of stimulus funds, hurt millions of workers and hamstring businesses who are not prepared to implement this new program, especially during this economic crisis.

These amendments will send the wrong signal to new voters that the Congress prefers to play politics by enacting symbolic and ineffective measures rather than serious and effective economic stimulus measures.