Speech #1090137436

But we have to understand that there is a zero sum here. We take the talent from somewhere that needs it desperately. The diversity visa program which is currently in place is open to people of many talents. They may not have a Ph.D. and they may not have a medical degree. It may just be a very ambitious entrepreneur with a small shop somewhere in the world who is willing to wait in line for a chance to come to the United States and maybe open another shop here. a shop that may grow into a larger business. employ people and make a livelihood for him and his family. That is what the diversity visa program is all about. to provide immigration from people all around the world. those who otherwise might not come to the United States. and to continue to make America the most diverse country in the world. That is a fact which I think is one of our strengths and not one of our weaknesses. Diversity visas open the door for thousands of people from around the world to come to America. We make 55.000 diversity visas available each year. and the draw of America is such that over 5 million people applied for those 55.000 visas in 2005. The diversity visa program is the only opportunity to immigrate to the United States for many people from lesser developed countries. especially African countries. For example. of 55.000 diversity visas issued in fiscal year 2005. 10.000 went to African immigrants. A recent article in the New Yorker magazine called the diversity visa program "a splendid overseas marketing campaign for the American Dream." Let me give an example of one American citizen who came to this country under the diversity visa program. which would be destroyed by the Gregg amendment. His name is Army Specialist Sola Ogundele from Nigeria. He came to the United States and he joined the Army.