100 US CEOs urge Senate to approve immigration reform

More than 100 top American CEOs from technology sector, including those from Facebook, Google and Microsoft, today appealed to the Senate to approve the comprehensive immigration bill, which they said will open a new path to the country's innovation and economic strength.
In a letter to all members of the Senate, the CEOs said they strongly believe the reforms in the bill, that impact high skilled immigration including key improvements in the availability of both green cards and H-1B visas, will help address the national talent shortage in the near-term.
In addition, it will also create a long-term pipeline of American workers through establishing a much-needed new fund for science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) education, including computer science education, said the letter from more than 100 executives from the technology sector and leading innovation advocacy organisations.

The comprehensive immigration bill (S.744) will also protect and better prepare American workers, and enable employers and entrepreneurs of all sizes in every state to recruit and retain the world's best talent, the letter said.
"Senate approval of S.744 is essential for our economy to continue to foster innovation and invigorate many US business sectors through an educated and highly skilled workforce of domestic and foreign-born talent," it said.
"Absent reform, if every American graduate receiving an advanced STEM degree gets a job, the US is estimated to face at least 200,000 unfilled advanced-degree STEM jobs by 2018. These unfilled jobs represent lost opportunities for our country, but with S.744, we can fill these jobs, create new ones and invest in a future of economic growth," the letter said.

The CEOs said this 'critically important' legislation would help ensure that America continues to be the location of the world's most innovative and fastest growing industries -- those that rely on intellectual property and highly educated talent.
"Your support for S.744 will allow America to better realise opportunities for innovation and job creation today, as well as secure our economic strength in the future," the letter said, while applauding the effort of the bipartisan group of eight Senators in drafting a 'path-breaking' immigration bill.