Speech #1090137436

I have absolute freedom to pursue my dreams. People like Specialist Ogundele make the United States stronger. and make us proud. That is what the diversity visa program contributes to our country. I am the son of an immigrant. I know when my grandparents brought my mother to this country at a very early age. they were looking for that American dream. I dont think they would have imagined the possibility that their grandson would be the 47th Senator in the history of the State of Illinois. That is what it is all about. The Gregg amendment fundamentally alters the diversity visa program. setting aside twothirds of these visas for immigrants who hold advanced degrees in science. mathematics. technology. and engineering. saying you can only be considered if you have an advanced degree. These setasides would favor immigrants from wealthier countries and reduce the diversity of future immigration to our country. By bringing in more highskilled immigrants. the Gregg amendment would also increase competition for jobs here. jobs like computer programmers and engineers. The H1B visa program already allows those with specialized education to come the United States. Why dont we keep the diversity visa program intact? Why dont we protect this program for the value that it brings to America? The HlB visa program already grants 65.000 visas to highskilled immigrants every year. This bill would increase that number to 115.000. and allow that cap to increase by up to 20 percent per year. I am a little concerned. I might add. that the H1B visa is entirely too generous. The Gregg amendment would add insult to injury. creating even more competition for Americans wanting to keep their jobs. The Gregg amendment would essentially convert the diversity visa program into just another H1B program. bringing many more highly trained competitive people to America. You can argue that is good for us. But. as I mentioned earlier. it is at the expense of someone else. I am concerned the Gregg amendment would really make this brain drain I have talked about even worse. This bill already includes provisions that will increase the brain drain. The New York Times story I mentioned reports on a provision in this bill that will lift the annual cap on the number of nurses who can immigrate to our country every year. The article. which is headlined. "U.S. Plan to Lure Nurses May Hurt Poor Nations." talks about the impact of importing nurses into the United States.