The Senate Immigration Reform Act, which you have probably been reading a lot about in the last few days, is a comprehensive approach to refining U.S. immigration policy.  AeA takes no position on the sections of the bill having to do with illegal immigration, but we have a definite interest in the provisions on H-1B visas and green cards.  We are supportive of the Cantwell, Cornyn, Hatch, and Leahy amendment which essentially sets aside 140,000 green cards for employer-sponsored high-skilled laborers that will parallel the self-sponsored merit/point based system. 

This amendment recognizes that the complete abolition of employer sponsorship for visas is contrary to the national interest because it would prevent employers from selecting employees with precise skill sets needed that could not be found at home by Americans and would severely damage U.S. innovation and competitiveness.  Without such an amendment the original act would ask companies to select employees out of a world-wide government pre-approved list instead of being able to independently recruit the best talent on their own.  A high-tech executive was recently quoted equating this to asking the San Antonio Spurs NBA basketball team from selecting its draft choices solely from a government list of players.

Whether within a comprehensive immigration bill or not, the high-tech industry cannot wait to see a change in high skilled visa policy as we are at a critical juncture in terms of the ability of the industry to attract and retain the best and the brightest from around the world.  The problem is particularly acute given the shortage of qualified American workers.  This issue is one of AeA's top public policy priorities for 2007 and the Board of Directors will be in Washington, DC, from June 5-7 lobbying Congress on how the shortage of qualified workers directly affects their businesses' ability to remain competitive in a globalized world.

On May 28, I attended a meeting with the Deputy Chief of Staff to the President along with about a dozen other high-tech lobbyists to discuss the Act.  The White House, which is strongly supportive of the Act, wants various interest groups (including high tech) to support the compromise now because in order for a comprehensive bill to become law it has to pass this year.  There is no way that the Administration and Congress wants to take this on next year due to the "politics" of the issue, being that it is an election year.

There is considerable opposition to the bill, not just in the Senate but also in the House of Representatives and specifically among Republicans because of the notion of a perceived amnesty provision.  This past week, I also met with several Members of the House and one very blunt appraisal of the legislation by a prominent Republican pronounced the bill dead on arrival.   Another senior House Republican said that polling from his state was running 95% against the immigration reform measure.  And both doubted that the Senate would even pass it.

So what is AeA going to be doing?  With the Board lobby visits scheduled for the day before the anticipated Senate vote and by using our grassroots capabilities through our councils by visiting with Members of Congress at their district offices, we will be asking Congress to improve the visa reform provisions along the following lines:

1. Support the Cantwell, Cornyn, Hatch, and Leahy amendment that keeps the employer-based green card system.
    

2. Increase the number of green cards to eliminate the current backlog.
    

3. Increase the cap on H-1B visas to a minimum of 150,000 a year with a market demand provision to allow that cap to be exceeded depending on that demand.
    

4. Retain the worker exemption for advanced degrees and university employees.

For more information on this bill or to learn how you can get involved in AeA's work on the issue contact Alan Vazquez, Manager/Counsel, Public Policy, at 202.682.4439.

John Palafoutas (bio)
Senior Vice President for Domestic Policy & Congressional Affairs

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On May 16, AeA hosted over 60 member company representatives in California's State Capitol building for the Annual AeA Sacramento Technology Summit. The over-arching theme of the day was how to keep California competitive. At this event, member companies heard speeches from:

• Assemblymember Guy Houston (R-CA 15th);
• Mike Prosio from Governor Schwarzenegger's office;
• Tim Guertin, President and CEO, Varian Medical Systems, Inc., and 2007 Chairman of AeA's Board of Directors; and
• William T. Archey, President and CEO, AeA.

During lunch the group was joined by Assemblymembers Nicole Parra (D-CA 30th), Anna Marie Caballero (D-CA 28th), Paul Krekorian (D-CA 43rd), Anthony Portantino (D-CA 44th), Curren Price (D-CA 51st), Mary Salas (D-CA 79th), and Jose Solorio (D-CA 69th) of the New Democrats (formerly known as the Moderate Democratic Caucus) to discuss the priorities of California's high-tech companies, followed by Selvi Stanislaus, Franchise Tax Board, Executive Director.

In addition to having an opportunity to hear several elected officials speak to the group, attendees were split into small groups and met with individual Legislators to discuss AeA's policy priorities in California. Policy issues discussed include:

• Competitiveness;
• Education;
• Environment;
• Online Safety and Security; and
• Procurement.

The lobby day concluded with a reception in the State Capitol Restaurant, where Senate Minority Leader Dick Ackerman (R-CA 33rd) presented a resolution to AeA.

AeA would like to thank all the representatives who attended this year's Tech Summit and our sponsors Applied Materials, Dell, DriveCam, HP, InCom, Intel, Manatt, Motorola, National Semiconductor, NXP, and SYS Technologies.

For more information please contact Chris Keil, Legislative Analyst, AeA California State Government Affairs, at 916.443.9059 x103.

William T. Archey, President & CEO, AeA, and Dick Ackerman, CA Senate Minority Leader (L-R)

Assemblymember Anna Marie Caballero (D-CA 28th) and other members of the State Assembly speak to Tech Summit participants during lunch

Roxanne Gould (bio)
Senior Vice President, California Government and Public Affairs

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 Meet Federal CIOs and Top Government Decision Makers at AeA's Technology for Government Dinner in Washington, DC

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Reserve your seat now to guarantee your attendance for AeA's Technology 4 Government Dinner on June 5, 2007!  The Annual AeA Technology 4 Government Dinner is the premier Washington, DC, event bringing hundreds of industry, government, and congressional leaders together at one venue. Last year, more than 600 people attended the dinner including, Chief Information Officers and procurement officials from over 20 different Federal agencies, Members of Congress, White House officials, and dozens of CEOs representing high-tech companies.

The keynote speaker for the 2007 dinner will be Jonathan Schwartz (bio), President and CEO, Sun Microsystems, Inc.  For more information on sponsorship or to register to attend please visit www.aeanet.org/t4g2007 or contact Goldy Kamali, Director, Federal Government Market Group, at 202.682.4432 or goldy_kamali@aeanet.org

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