During his weekly video address, Senator Chuck Grassley presses President Obama to support his legislation to root out fraud and abuse from the H-1B visa program and ensure qualified Americans have the first opportunity to compete for jobs. Grassley highlights a discussion between the President and Jennifer Wedel who called attention to the difficulty many high-skilled Americans are having finding employment in this area.
Click here for audio.
Here is the text of the address:
During a recent Google Plus "hangout," President Obama heard directly from Jennifer Wedel whose husband, a high-tech engineer, had been unable to find a job for more than three years.
The President seemed surprised about the employment struggles of so many high-skilled Americans like Mr. Wedel.
It's something I've been hearing for several years. Many high-skilled Americans are being passed over for jobs. Companies are hiring lower-wage workers from overseas, often through the H-1B Visa program.
I'm glad that Mrs. Wedel brought this to the President's attention. The President offered to personally help Mr. Wedel, but there are many other Americans in the same boat.
The struggles for these high skilled workers will continue. The President's administration recently made policy changes affecting foreign students and spouses of H-1B visa holders that put American workers at a disadvantage. The H-1B visa program should complement the U.S. workforce, not replace it.
Through my oversight, I've uncovered untold amounts of fraud and abuse in the H-1B visa program. To ensure that qualified American workers are given first consideration, I've written legislation that would return the program to its original intent where employers use H-1B visas only to shore up employment in areas where there is a lack of qualified American workers. My bill makes reforms to increase enforcement, modify wage requirements and ensure protection for visa holders and American workers.
President Obama should support my H-1B reform legislation and give qualified high-skilled Americans the best opportunity to compete for jobs.
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