Letter in Support of the Bipartisan I-Squared Act of 2013

The Honorable Christopher Coons
United States Senate
127A Russell Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510

The Honorable Orrin Hatch
United States Senate
104 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510

The Honorable Marco Rubio
United States Senate
317 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510

The Honorable Amy Klobuchar
United States Senate
302 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510

Dear Senators Hatch, Coons, Rubio, and Klobuchar:

Third Way is pleased to support the I-Squared Act of 2013. This bipartisan proposed law is instrumental for our economy and will help the United States become a global magnet for top minds and talent. As Congress debates comprehensive immigration reform, we hope that legislative language such as this is included in the final package.

America has many economic strengths. Chief among them is our top colleges and universities which attract some of the brightest minds in the world to our country. Yet it is currently the policy of America to send them home to create growth and opportunity elsewhere. That has to change. Instead it should be a top priority of immigration reform to retain those who come here to learn—particularly in the fields of S.T.E.M.—and allow them to create jobs and spur innovation in America. The I-Squared Act would do just that.

In addition, this bill addresses many of the problems with the H-1B program and reforms it for the modern age. Our knowledge-based economy relies on being able to hire enough workers with high-tech skills regardless of whether we are producing enough from our schools. The ISquared proposals are reasonable and practical.

In the 20th century, immigration was part of the success story that made America great. But our immigration needs are different from the days in which we required workers to fill factory floors. Our immigration system will always include many who come here for reasons of family unification and to fill some hard-to-fill low-skilled jobs. But we must tilt the future flow more toward attracting and retaining the best and brightest.

Finally, Third Way supports comprehensive immigration reform that takes the 11 million current undocumented immigrants out of the shadow economy. We believe any such package should also dramatically increase our global competitiveness. The I-Squared Act would be a valuable piece of a comprehensive bill. We commend this bipartisan effort to grow America’s economy and boost prosperity for all Americans.

Sincerely,

Third Way