I recently came across a news article on Bill Gates’ testimony before the House Committee on Science and Technology, held on March 12. As part of the hearing, Gates requested the current 65,000 cap on H-1B visas—which allows that number of foreign workers to be legally employed at U.S. companies within a given year—be removed. He argued “the shortage of trained scientists and engineers had grown so severe [in the U.S.] that it required a dramatic increase in the number of highly skilled immigrants permitted to enter the country,” according to the www.artstechnia.com Web site. Gates contended that “despite the excellence of America’s institutions of higher education, the supply of students graduating with science and engineering degrees has not kept up with demand.”
But Mr. Microsoft’s views didn’t sit well with all those in attendance. He drew harsh criticism from Rep. Dana Rohrabacher who argued companies could be hiring more American programmers, instead. Gates’ counter argument: “It was better to have the world’s smartest workers developing new technologies here in the U.S. than to work overseas where the benefits of new technologies may come first to overseas firms.”
I am interested to hear your thoughts on the topic. Do you agree with Mr. Gates or do you see this as yet another threat to American jobs, although, technically, the work is being done on American soil?
E-mail me at [email protected]. I look forward to hearing from you.
‘Til we chat again …
-Cynthia
P.S. Check out my article on American manufacturing in the March issue of Promo Marketing and let me know what you think!
