The House is expected to vote on
Friday, November 30, 2012 on the “STEM
Jobs Act,” introduced by Lamar Smith (R-Texas). The bill would create 55,000 green cards for
holders of advanced degrees in science, technology, engineering and math from
U.S. institutions. The bill would also create a special temporary visa for
foreign students planning to study STEM fields at U.S. universities, which
would make it easier for them to become permanent residents upon graduation.
Representative
Zoe Lofgren (D San Jose) opposes the elimination of the visa lottery which
is the source of the extra visa numbers used by the STEM Jobs Act. Ms. Lofgren has introduced a Silicon Valley-friendly
competing STEM
green card bill that does not contain restrictionist provisions.
Democrats worry that passage of the
Smith bill in the lame duck session of Congress will weaken chances for
comprehensive immigration reform measures that the administration has made a
legislative priority in President Obama’s second term.