On the recordNovember 30, 2012
I thank the gentleman. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this legislation, the STEM Jobs Act. This is a bill which will provide much-needed employment-based immigration reform and which will help position our economy for success in the 21st century. The STEM fields of science, technology, engineering, and math must be encouraged in our own schools as well as in the new populations of innovators who want to participate in our economy. These high-tech jobs help support many middle class communities, which are the bedrock of the American economy, including the communities of Bucks County, Pennsylvania, from which I hail. While we continue to encourage STEM education here at home and while still protecting American workers, we must also welcome those who earned advanced degrees in a STEM field from an American university and who want to become part of our economy. This is exactly what the STEM Jobs Act accomplishes. As we engage these high-tech innovators in our economy, the STEM Jobs Act also rightly recognizes the need to support and to prioritize families. The pro-family expansion of the V Nonimmigrant Visa program within this bill is an important element of a fair immigration system. The STEM Jobs Act appropriately prioritizes jobs and families. It's a very good bill. It's a fair bill for the 21st century. I encourage my colleagues to support it.
