Sen. Hatch calls high-skilled worker shortage ‘a crisis'
In a speech on the House floor this summer, Sessions argued that there was no evidence of a shortage of skilled workers, and said many STEM-trained workers struggle to find employment.
Grassley, who will become Senate Judiciary Committee chairman with oversight of immigration policy if Republicans re-take the Senate next month, has been critical of the use of H-1B visas by offshore outsourcing firms. These firms are the major users of the visa. In 2007, Grassley said: "Unfortunately, the H-1B program is so popular that it's now replacing the U.S. labor force."
By giving this speech just before the Nov. 4 election, Hatch is signaling to the high-tech industry what it can expect if the Republicans win a Senate majority.
Hatch wants the Senate to take up the high-skill immigration issue separate from broader comprehensive immigration reform to improve its odds of passage. The Senate last year did approve a comprehensive immigration bill that would allow the cap to increase to 180,000, but it was tied to comprehensive reform. The House of Representatives did not take the issue up.
If the Republicans take the Senate, they would still need Democratic support to get an H-1B cap increase, and Democratic leaders may still want to tie that to a comprehensive agreement.