[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 129 (Friday, September 21, 2012)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1640]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                         STEM JOBS ACT OF 2012

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                               speech of

                         HON. CHRIS VAN HOLLEN

                              of maryland

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, September 20, 2012

  Mr. VAN HOLLEN. Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to H.R. 6429, an 
unnecessarily partisan bill to increase the number of visas for foreign 
students graduating with advanced degrees in science, technology, 
engineering, and mathematics (STEM). While I strongly believe we should 
increase the number of visas for these students, I oppose this bill 
because it eliminates the Diversity Visa Program. There is broad 
bipartisan support to increase the number of STEM visas. It is 
unfortunate that the Republican Leadership brought this bill to the 
floor. President Obama highlighted his support for increasing the 
number of STEM visas in his 2012 State of the Union Address, when he 
stated that it made no sense to train foreign students with advanced 
STEM degrees and then ``send them home to invent new products and 
create new jobs somewhere else.'' I wish the Republican Leadership 
would have brought to the floor a bill introduced by Rep. Zoe Lofgren 
to increase the number of STEM visas without eliminating the Diversity 
Visas Program. I support that legislation.

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