[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 146 (2000), Part 14]
[House]
[Pages 20703-20704]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



                               H-1B VISAS

  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Isakson). Under a previous order of the 
House, the gentlewoman from North Carolina (Mrs. Clayton) is recognized 
for 5 minutes.
  Mrs. CLAYTON. Mr. Speaker, I want to express my appreciation to the 
gentleman from Colorado (Mr. McInnis) and the other Members on the 
other side who are allowing me to proceed.
  Mr. Speaker, last night, under the cloak of darkness, without notice, 
without the opportunity to participate by voice vote on an unwritten 
suspension calendar, after we had been told there would be no further 
votes for the day, at a time when most Members had left the Chamber for 
evening activities, the House passed S. 2045, legislation related to 
the increase of H-1B visas.
  I was not necessarily opposed to the bill, formally entitled the 
American Competitiveness in the 21st Century Act. I was opposed to not 
having a debate about it.
  But with such vitally important legislation, in an area of critical 
importance to this Nation, immigration policy, this House should have 
had a chance to debate this matter, air the many views that emerged 
during the House committee consideration of a similar measure, and 
voted in the light of day on the bill.
  It is wrong, Mr. Speaker. It is inexcusable. And the American people 
deserve to know what some in this House did. The Senate bill increased 
H-1B visas, in the light of day, to allow some 200,000 additional high-
tech workers to come to America from other countries, to work over the 
next 3 years. I had amendments prepared to expand this legislation to 
provide these same employment opportunities and training opportunities 
to the United States workers in rural communities.
  Professionals who work in specialty occupations are admitted to the 
United States on a temporary basis through the H-1B visa category, the 
largest category of temporary foreign workers. The increase was pushed 
by many in the business community, especially those in the information 
technology area, which is experiencing an economic explosion and 
unprecedented job growth.
  The amendments I had prepared would have made sure that those living 
in rural America would have the opportunity to secure a position in 
this rapidly expanding job market before employers look outside the 
United States to bring in foreign workers. Not that we are against 
bringing in foreign workers, we just want the same opportunity for 
those who live in rural America.
  The House Committee on the Judiciary marked up and reported H.R. 
4227, the Technology Worker Temporary Relief Act. Among the many bills 
introduced, there were three others related to the same subject, 
increasing numerical limitations on H-1B visas, that also should be 
considered. Those bills were H.R. 3983, H.R. 4402, and H.R. 4200.
  Despite the rosy economic picture in America, too many Americans are 
being left out. For those Americans, many of them living in rural 
America over at least a 20-year period, there has been a troubling 
trend, a trend that affects the very quality of their life. During 
these 2 decades, income and wealth inequality, the disparity in income 
and wealth due to wages, accumulated wealth, investments and returns, 
have been well documented.
  It is an alarming and disturbing trend because among those rural 
Americans left behind, fewer can afford healthy meals, fewer can afford 
health care for their families, and fewer can afford a college 
education for their children. It is an alarming and disturbing trend 
because rural America has been disproportionately affected. 
Consequently, rural America lags far behind other communities in 
personal access to the Internet as well as the total use of the 
Internet.
  This disparity exacerbates the persistent poverty, high unemployment, 
inadequate health care and education resources. Thus, as the economy 
rapidly expands, rural communities find that it is far more difficult 
to participate.
  Moreover, technological advances, which could provide some solutions 
to these conditions, elude rural communities because of digital 
disenfranchisement. Such advances as telemedicine, distance education 
and electronic government, depend upon Internet access.
  It is clear that the competition among service providers that is 
driving the Internet explosion is not as concentrated in rural 
communities. The lack of population densities, the absence of essential 
infrastructure and the fact that rural communities are often spread 
over great distances are reasons cited for this lack of enthusiasm. 
Even the Department of Commerce has concluded in its Report, ``Falling 
Through The Net,'' that, ``Disparities clearly exist (and) . . . access 
comes hardest for Americans who are low-income . . . less educated, 
single-parent families, young heads-of-households, and (those) who live 
in the South, rural areas and central cities.''
  However, these barriers should not, must not remain as impediments. A 
rising tide should lift all boats.
  It is for these reasons that this House should have had the 
opportunity to debate, vote on and support amendments that would 
require education and training for American citizens who reside in 
rural and other depressed areas; amendments that would require both 
public and private sector entities to make reasonable and diligent 
efforts to find American citizens who are willing to be trained in 
information technology positions; that would raise the H-1B visa fees; 
and that would use those increased revenues to, in part, carry out the 
other amendment mandates.
  Mr. Speaker, this House has not had the will to pass a modest 
increase in the minimum wage, an increase to help move millions of 
America's workers out of poverty. But we did find the will to pass a 
bill that mandates that foreign workers earn a minimum of $40,000 a 
year. That is what the H-1B Bill that passed provides.
  Late last night, Mr. Speaker, those who favor large business 
interests won. But, the

[[Page 20704]]

American people, especially those who live in rural America, the many 
willing and able unemployed workers and this Nation, lost.
  It is clear, Mr. Speaker, that rural America indeed lost. In fact, 
the Nation lost. Indeed, I think we should make an opportunity for 
American workers as well.

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