Speech #1130121409

They are an impediment to online innovation and they are unnecessary to meet the needs of law enforcement. It is time to act to update our electronic communications privacy laws. Finally. there is widespread consensus and real opportunity for bipartisan bicameral reform of our outdated visa system for economically essential highskilled immigrants. For too long our country has been unable to meet the everincreasing demand for workers trained in the science. technology. engineering. and mathematics or STEM fields. As a result. some of our Nations top technology markets are in desperate need for qualified STEM workers. We face a highskilled worker shortage that has become a national crisis. In April. for the second year in a row. the Federal Government reached its current HlB quota just 5 days after it began accepting applications. Employers submitted 172.500 petitions for just 85.000 available visas. meaning American companies were unable to hire nearly 90.000 highskilled workers essential to help grow their domestic businesses. develop innovative technologies at home rather than abroad. and compete internationally. This is one of the principal reasons why I. together with Senators AMY KLOBUCHAR. MARCO RuBIo. and CHRIS COONS. introduced the bipartisan Immigration Innovation or ISquared Act. To date the legislation has 26 bipartisan cosponsors. Among other things. the ISquared Act provides a thoughtful. lasting legislative framework that would increase the number of H1 visas based on annual market demand to attract highly skilled workers and innovators. The bill also reforms fees on HlB visas and employmentbased green cards for funding a grantbased State program to promote STEM education and worker retraining. The ISquared Act addresses the immediate shortterm needs to provide American employees with greater access to highskilled workers. while also addressing longterm needs to invest in Americas STEM education. I am confident this twostep approach will enable our country to thrive and help us compete in todays global economy. No doubt. a concrete legislative victory. when there is already considerable consensus. would help build trust and good will among those who disagree sharply over other areas of immigration policy. It would mark a critical first step along the path to broader reform. I look forward to working with my Senate colleagues in introducing ISquared early next year.