The Great Lakes Zephyr - Wind Energy & Hydrogen Journal

Kucinich Gets Tough on H-1b and L-1 Visas
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 16, 2004

The expanded use of H-1b and L-1 visas has had a negative effect on the workplace of Information Technology workers in America. It has caused a reduction in wages. It has forced workers to accept deteriorating working conditions and allowed U.S. companies to concentrate work in technical and geographic areas that American workers consider undesirable. It has also reduced the number of IT jobs held by Americans. At its peak in 2000, there were 10.5 million people working in Information Technology in the United States. By 2001, there were fewer than 10 million -- despite continued global growth in Information Technology employment. Professor Norman Matloff of UC Davis estimates that in the spring of 2003 there were 500,000 unemployed and underemployed U.S. programmers, while there were 463,000 H-1b workers employed in the field.

A Kucinich administration will ensure that there are adequate funds for the enforcement of visa regulations -- including much-ignored regulations prohibiting the use of foreign nationals in critical infrastructure. A Kucinich administration will also appoint a special investigator to examine the extent and nature of H-1b and L-1 visa fraud and the reasons for heavy use of H-1b and L-1 visas at Enron, WorldCom, and Anderson. He will take seriously the allegations of perjury by corporate leaders who have testified before Congress, requesting expansion of this program in 1998 and 2000, as well as allegations of the use of the H-1b and L-1 programs in corrupt organizations.

There will be an industry fact-finding commission, including representatives of major U.S. investors, U.S. tech workers, and business leaders who have been competitive in the international marketplace without use of the H-1b/L-1 program. These representatives will make suggestions as to a new policy on the immigration of people with specialized knowledge or unique skills.

Dennis Kucinich has already set forth plans for major technical initiatives in the areas of renewable energy, pollution control, and promotions of Open Source software and media creating a wider diversity of means by which technologists are funded outside of the service of major corporations. It may not be possible to undo the damage that corporate shortsightedness has done to the U.S. technical community -- but it is possible to give a real voice to the vision that the U.S. technical community has for a better America.

For more campaign information: http://www.kucinich.us

For Congressman Kucinich's Schedule: http://www.kucinich.us/schedule.htm.

Contact: Susan Mainzer, 213-840-007, smainzer@kucinich.us


Contact us:
Kucinich for President
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