[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 153 (Monday, December 3, 2012)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1863]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                          PERSONAL EXPLANATION

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. RON BARBER

                               of arizona

                    in the house of representatives

                        Monday, December 3, 2012

  Mr. BARBER. Mr. Speaker, due to my surgery and recuperation during 
the week of November 26 through December 2, 2012, I missed five 
recorded votes during that week. I would like to indicate how I would 
have voted had I been present for these votes.
  On rollcall No. 609, H.R. 5997, the Medical Preparedness Allowable 
Use Act, I would have voted ``yea'' to authorize the use of Urban Area 
Security Initiative and State Homeland Security Grant Program funding 
to allow for the local use of these funds to enhance emergency medical 
preparedness programs such as medical surge capacity and preventing the 
spread of mass disease. This legislation will help ensure that we have 
the medical tools and resources needed to protect the public.
  On rollcall No. 610, H.R. 915, the Jaime Zapata Border Enforcement 
Security Task Force Act, I would have voted ``yea'' to establish within 
Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) a Border Enforcement Security 
Task Force (BEST) program to foster coordinated efforts among federal, 
state and local border and law enforcement officials to protect cities 
and communities from crime along our borders. Southern Arizonans are in 
the direct path of the most serious drug cartel smuggling activity of 
any region in the nation and are heavily and disproportionately 
affected by criminal activities along the border. The BEST program will 
help to improve the safety and security of my constituents.
  On rollcall No. 611, H. Res. 821, a rule to provide for consideration 
of H.R. 6429, the STEM Jobs Act of 2012,1 would have voted ``nay'' and 
opposed consideration of the legislation in its current form without 
amendment.
  On rollcall No. 612, a Motion to Recommit H.R. 6429, the STEM Jobs 
Act of 2012, I would have voted ``yea'' to amend the bill to strike the 
provision that eliminates the Diversity Visa program that makes visas 
available to people from countries that have low rates of immigration 
to the United States.
  On rollcall No. 613, H.R. 6429, the STEM Jobs Act of 2012, I would 
have voted ``yea'' to create a STEM Visa program under which foreign 
students that earn advanced degrees in the high-demand fields of 
Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) at American 
universities could remain in our country to work in those fields. The 
program would provide 55,000 such visas annually. I regret that the 
legislation takes away the Diversity Visa program in order to add 
55,000 visas for STEM graduates. However, finding qualified candidates 
to fill these positions is a very serious issue in my district, which 
is home to many high tech companies. These companies are too often 
unable to find qualified American candidates to work in this industry 
that is so essential to the growth of our local economy. While my first 
priority is supporting STEM education and jobs for American students 
and workers, allowing foreign STEM graduates to work in the U.S. in 
jobs for which American workers cannot be found will contribute to our 
economy and global competitiveness.

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