Letter from Telecommunications Industry Association.
Re: H1B legislation.
Date: September 6, 2000.
Source: TIA.

September 6, 2000

Members of the U.S. House of Representatives and U.S. Senate
White House Chief of Staff John Podesta
Gore and Bush Campaigns

The communications equipment manufacturers and suppliers in this country need help. We need talented, well-trained people to fill the thousands and thousands of job openings across our industry. Without them, the communications revolution that the Telecommunications Industry Association's (TIA's) member companies make possible will languish. Projects simply won't get done, new ideas won't see the light of day, and research into the next generation of communications products won't be conducted -- at least not in this country.

As you know, TIA's 1,000 large and small member companies manufacture communications and information technology products, materials, systems, distribution services and professional services in the United States and around the world, representing a market of over $135 billion a year. In short, TIA's members supply virtually all of the powerful communications equipment and software that is the backbone of the digital age. But it's a mistake to think of it as just a digital age, because ones and zeros can't invent new products, conduct cutting-edge research, or design a faster, more reliable Internet. It's people who do those things. That's both the good news and the bad news. On the one hand, our economy is prospering with the jobless rate at a 30-year low. On the other hand, we're facing a staggering workforce shortage because there aren't enough highly-skilled people to go around.

That's why we need to raise the cap on H-1B visas immediately. Legislation such as H.R. 3983 and S. 2045 both do the job in ways that truly help industry AND help train more American workers. Let's be clear. Lifting the cap on H-1B visas will not completely eliminate the serious workforce shortage in this country. There will still be plenty of jobs available that will go unfilled. However, giving American companies more access to the best and brightest talent around the world is an absolutely critical step in keeping our own economic engine humming. It's really quite simple: We can focus clearly on raising the cap and keeping jobs here, or we can lose this moment and watch as jobs move out of the country.

TIA and its members urge you to enact the provisions of H.R. 3983 and S. 2045 now. Help America keep the lead in the communications revolution we created.

Sincerely,

Matthew J. Flanigan