roseball
08-27 11:47 AM
Based on this poll, can somebody predict EB3-I movement starting Oct'2008?
The dates moved from Apr'2001 to Nov'2001 last year when EB3-I didn't recieve any spillover. So what would be the movement when new year starts?
I am hoping atleast it will move forward and not backwards....
Dec 2001 is my guess. Hopefully, it will continue to move as the year progresses...
The dates moved from Apr'2001 to Nov'2001 last year when EB3-I didn't recieve any spillover. So what would be the movement when new year starts?
I am hoping atleast it will move forward and not backwards....
Dec 2001 is my guess. Hopefully, it will continue to move as the year progresses...
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gcdreamer05
08-12 12:15 PM
hmmm so how long before we get our chance, mera number kab aaayegaa :rolleyes:
Rajeev
01-31 12:28 PM
The questions are now number 6 and 18 under most popular list.
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smartboy75
10-23 03:44 PM
Finally my attorney from the previous company has received the withdrawal notice for my H1B with that company. The attorney also said that this was in response to the withdrawal request that the company has filed with USCIS after I left them.
Just the same way I had mentioned a couple of days before....
Thanks for sharing the info.
Just the same way I had mentioned a couple of days before....
Thanks for sharing the info.
more...
snram4
01-09 10:29 AM
It is easy to say than do. Flower Compaign worked once because they made a mistake. They can return the flowers to the senders. You cannot make law change in the divided issue that much easily.Hunger Strike could lead legal issues for participants some times. So that is impractical. For arranging rallies IV volunteers may have to work for months to organise. After some people's hardwork only a few hundred people will turn up. So rally will become get together.
I totally agree with you, I used to visit IV a lot, but was just disappointed with the results from some of its members. Not to blame IV core team, but other members who would just come and read blogs. Specially EAD holder's, I hope their eyes are opening up to new realities. Yesterday, my sister in law entered USA from Newark Airport and she witnessed three people holding HIB visas get cancelled at the immigration point, one had EAD.
All we Desi's want is a free ride, same old mentality, don't want to put in any diligence in this matter, but very quick on pointing short comings on others. Blame game!
Point is, we all need to do something radical, sending flowers again and holding a hunger strike, otherwise, keep coming to IV and keep getting disappointed.
Papu, maybe you can hold something up for once. Schedule a date for some event.
I totally agree with you, I used to visit IV a lot, but was just disappointed with the results from some of its members. Not to blame IV core team, but other members who would just come and read blogs. Specially EAD holder's, I hope their eyes are opening up to new realities. Yesterday, my sister in law entered USA from Newark Airport and she witnessed three people holding HIB visas get cancelled at the immigration point, one had EAD.
All we Desi's want is a free ride, same old mentality, don't want to put in any diligence in this matter, but very quick on pointing short comings on others. Blame game!
Point is, we all need to do something radical, sending flowers again and holding a hunger strike, otherwise, keep coming to IV and keep getting disappointed.
Papu, maybe you can hold something up for once. Schedule a date for some event.
tinamatthew
07-18 03:27 PM
I don't know why but we tend to be satisfied with lsmall benefits...
I agree with you "something (EAD and AP) is better than nothing"
But i bet you ..you will find your self in the same situation of agony and endless waiting for the final Green card.
I bet most of the people don't use your ead and AP as it puts you in a gray "Adjustment of status". They are good to have though. But you will see...how painful it is to decide to use them or not..
What i want to say is that being able to apply for EAD and AP is not the end of the battle..you will be stuck in a depressing situation waiting for the final green card.How do i know? .. I went through it...waiting for GC for the past 4 years.
I dont know its FBI or its just the USCIS incompetence but waiting in the final stage is horrible. Every time you travel you are scared...AP as for as my lawyer goes IT does not guarantee 100% entry in to the country.
After you apply for AP its only 1 year H1 increments.
What i am saying why dont we try for the overall improvement of the GC processing. Why dont we be firm about not wasting the GC numbers and recapturing the unused numbers.
We had a small revolt (peaceful way) and its successful.We dont want to stop there.
LETS FIGHT FOR THE OVERALL IMPROVEMENT OF THE GC PROCESSING
I hope you guys are with me..looking for your comments
Have you ever had to stay at home AGAINST your wishes?
Have you ever wondered if all your technical skills would still be usable when you finally get that EAD?
Have you ever wondered if the employer would still want you after you been out of circulation for so many years?
Well.... if you have ever asked your selves these questions, then you may well as say I am ready to wait for that GC
I agree, let us fight for the overall improvement of the GC processing, BUT I say after Aug 17th
I agree with you "something (EAD and AP) is better than nothing"
But i bet you ..you will find your self in the same situation of agony and endless waiting for the final Green card.
I bet most of the people don't use your ead and AP as it puts you in a gray "Adjustment of status". They are good to have though. But you will see...how painful it is to decide to use them or not..
What i want to say is that being able to apply for EAD and AP is not the end of the battle..you will be stuck in a depressing situation waiting for the final green card.How do i know? .. I went through it...waiting for GC for the past 4 years.
I dont know its FBI or its just the USCIS incompetence but waiting in the final stage is horrible. Every time you travel you are scared...AP as for as my lawyer goes IT does not guarantee 100% entry in to the country.
After you apply for AP its only 1 year H1 increments.
What i am saying why dont we try for the overall improvement of the GC processing. Why dont we be firm about not wasting the GC numbers and recapturing the unused numbers.
We had a small revolt (peaceful way) and its successful.We dont want to stop there.
LETS FIGHT FOR THE OVERALL IMPROVEMENT OF THE GC PROCESSING
I hope you guys are with me..looking for your comments
Have you ever had to stay at home AGAINST your wishes?
Have you ever wondered if all your technical skills would still be usable when you finally get that EAD?
Have you ever wondered if the employer would still want you after you been out of circulation for so many years?
Well.... if you have ever asked your selves these questions, then you may well as say I am ready to wait for that GC
I agree, let us fight for the overall improvement of the GC processing, BUT I say after Aug 17th
more...
pappu
04-24 06:54 PM
Here is the Durbin Grassley outsourcing bill. We will be providing our analysis soon
http://immigrationvoice.org/media/forums/iv/temp/forum_attach/outsourcingbill.pdf
http://immigrationvoice.org/media/forums/iv/temp/forum_attach/outsourcingbill.pdf
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va_12_2004
04-21 10:49 PM
I have just contributed $100. More later. Please keep up the good effort. I am trying to talk with guys in our company to join and contribute.
more...
SGP
03-31 05:05 AM
$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$GOOD MORNING GC$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
Deadline = April 30th, 2011
Goal = 5000 votes on survey (see I-485 filing w/o current PD thread) and momentum to continue with this campaign.The survey is a platform to gather and push for launching action items. Based on response by 04/30/2011 - IV will decide whether to even proceed with initiative or not.
Actions - 1) Vote on survey.
2)Email ivcoordinator@gmail.com with PD, ph#,email & subject "I485 filing impacted�,
3)Print/Circulate Fliers and spread FB, wiki link (see "support thread")
Dear IV Members,
If you believe that your success depends on your immigration process - whether it's the ability to file I-485 earlier or to get green-card and citizenship sooner or whether it's the ability of your spouse to work - then you have to believe that your success somehow depends on the success of Immigration voice and these 170 volunteers in DC next week.
As you may know, we are just one more week away from hosting Advocacy day in Washington DC where about 170 members of Immigration Voice will conduct nearly 250 meetings with offices of Senators and Congressmen. Such events cost money. If we have enough contributions, we can spend as per our budget of nearly $ 50,000. If not, we will have to cut back on the event spending and reduce the magnitude and size of the event.
If you are not coming to DC next week, please do your part and contribute funds to Immigration Voice. It not only finances the event properly, it instills pride and confidence in the members who will be there in DC that there are thousands of willing supporters behind them who could not be there physically but are 100% with them in their determination and resolve.
For background click here -> Announcement about April 2011 Advocacy Days (http://immigrationvoice.org/forum/forum85-action-items-for-everyone/1901186-action-item-advocacy-days-in-washington-dc-in-april-2011-a.html#post2301599)
Contribute to Advocacy Event on the Capitol Hill (http://immigrationvoice.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=26&Itemid=44#onetimepaypal) (All one-time contributions will go towards organizing the Advocacy Days event)
Deadline = April 30th, 2011
Goal = 5000 votes on survey (see I-485 filing w/o current PD thread) and momentum to continue with this campaign.The survey is a platform to gather and push for launching action items. Based on response by 04/30/2011 - IV will decide whether to even proceed with initiative or not.
Actions - 1) Vote on survey.
2)Email ivcoordinator@gmail.com with PD, ph#,email & subject "I485 filing impacted�,
3)Print/Circulate Fliers and spread FB, wiki link (see "support thread")
Dear IV Members,
If you believe that your success depends on your immigration process - whether it's the ability to file I-485 earlier or to get green-card and citizenship sooner or whether it's the ability of your spouse to work - then you have to believe that your success somehow depends on the success of Immigration voice and these 170 volunteers in DC next week.
As you may know, we are just one more week away from hosting Advocacy day in Washington DC where about 170 members of Immigration Voice will conduct nearly 250 meetings with offices of Senators and Congressmen. Such events cost money. If we have enough contributions, we can spend as per our budget of nearly $ 50,000. If not, we will have to cut back on the event spending and reduce the magnitude and size of the event.
If you are not coming to DC next week, please do your part and contribute funds to Immigration Voice. It not only finances the event properly, it instills pride and confidence in the members who will be there in DC that there are thousands of willing supporters behind them who could not be there physically but are 100% with them in their determination and resolve.
For background click here -> Announcement about April 2011 Advocacy Days (http://immigrationvoice.org/forum/forum85-action-items-for-everyone/1901186-action-item-advocacy-days-in-washington-dc-in-april-2011-a.html#post2301599)
Contribute to Advocacy Event on the Capitol Hill (http://immigrationvoice.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=26&Itemid=44#onetimepaypal) (All one-time contributions will go towards organizing the Advocacy Days event)
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DSLStart
09-17 01:24 PM
Why not? I know Bill clinton was hooked up to some Indian restaurants in DC/NVA.
Decent Indian restaurants in DC?? Are you kidding me? :p
Decent Indian restaurants in DC?? Are you kidding me? :p
more...
permfiling
10-22 11:45 PM
There is a weekly conf call with attorney Prashanthi on thursday 9 pm EST. In one of the calls I had this question and the answer is that once you use AC21, the most recent company were you are working and where your GC got approved will be your sponsor so u have to stay with that company for 6 months ( the time duration is debated in other threads)
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gsc999
07-11 07:05 PM
I'm more of the opinion that White shirts and Denims should be fine. Suit in bay area makes no sense. We are all after all geeky engineers after all.. like some one said!
A
Weather forecast for Saturday at this venue = 82 degree F. Partly cloudy.
Today's humidity level was 46%. As many locals will agree, this is not conducive weather for formal wear.
http://weather.yahoo.com/forecast/USCA0993.html
A
Weather forecast for Saturday at this venue = 82 degree F. Partly cloudy.
Today's humidity level was 46%. As many locals will agree, this is not conducive weather for formal wear.
http://weather.yahoo.com/forecast/USCA0993.html
more...
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chanduv23
03-13 11:48 AM
I completely disagree with your message here. You dont even know what the personal reason for not participating in a state chapter is. I, for one, am unable to join a state chapter, because , the nearest chapter is 400 miles and 2 states away. What good would it do to me to join something that I can never be part of. I wanted to start a state chapter here in my place, but I couldnt find any useful resources on how to do it. May be eb3_nepa has some reasons like it.
Like you said, IV is not a top-down organization, which means everyone is responsible for everyone. I dont see anything wrong with eb3_nepa's questions. He wanted to know what is going on. I am sure there are lots of people around here who has the same questions.
The Admin Fixes letter campaign was a good initiative. But, the target date got moved twice, and now I dont even know when the end date is.
May be IV should be a top-down organization. Any organization as big as IV would probably be better served with a Top Team. That team could probably elected by the community. I am confident, that most of our members wouldnt even mind spending a few extra bucks to pay a honarary amount to this team for their efforts and time. Then there will be more structure and accountability and action going on around here.
I came to know about IV pretty late. When I did learn about IV and joined IV, I was a very enthusiastic participant. Of late, I do believe IV is fading away. I dont see so many activities going on around here. Like eb3_nepa and few others said, IV is right now becoming just another Immigration portal. It is starting to lose its identity.
After doing all the hard work to gather a mass or like minded people, it will be shameful, if IV drifts away from its stated aim. So, may be it is time for every member, including core members like you to refect upon things and come up with ways to make this organization more transparent and more accessible for people like me.
Like Waldenpond said, it is probably not wise to list all the items going on in the portal. The work around to that would be, we can add another membership type which is more restrictive. This membership group will have only members whose identities have been verified. Once this group is created, IV can post all the happenings accessible to them. This will help people like me who are unable to be part of any state chapter to know what is happening at IV. Keep our sprits high.
Thank you
The primary reason for disconnects and inability towards working in structure is because IV is primarily a volunteer organization and everyone are unpaid volunteers.
I agree that a lot of State chapters are not functional. some of them were reborn after death, some are very active some are not - as a matter of fact I lead the Tri State chapter and this had to be reborn as it was lead by someone else before and they did what they could and gave up. Now we have some wonderful chapter members who are really helping out and doing a great job. we combined the 3 states for better numbers and better coordination. the leads have strived very hard and continue to strive hard.
There are times when other things take up priority and the leadership may not be in a position to be active.
I think part of the frustration is because there do not seem to be frequest updates these days.
This is what I recommend. Contact the state chapter leader who is nearest to your state. You can join the state chapter.
For some very important reasons, updates canot be posted on the website.
With regard to eb3_nepa's case - I think he is from Tri State area doors are always open for him to join the state chapter
Like you said, IV is not a top-down organization, which means everyone is responsible for everyone. I dont see anything wrong with eb3_nepa's questions. He wanted to know what is going on. I am sure there are lots of people around here who has the same questions.
The Admin Fixes letter campaign was a good initiative. But, the target date got moved twice, and now I dont even know when the end date is.
May be IV should be a top-down organization. Any organization as big as IV would probably be better served with a Top Team. That team could probably elected by the community. I am confident, that most of our members wouldnt even mind spending a few extra bucks to pay a honarary amount to this team for their efforts and time. Then there will be more structure and accountability and action going on around here.
I came to know about IV pretty late. When I did learn about IV and joined IV, I was a very enthusiastic participant. Of late, I do believe IV is fading away. I dont see so many activities going on around here. Like eb3_nepa and few others said, IV is right now becoming just another Immigration portal. It is starting to lose its identity.
After doing all the hard work to gather a mass or like minded people, it will be shameful, if IV drifts away from its stated aim. So, may be it is time for every member, including core members like you to refect upon things and come up with ways to make this organization more transparent and more accessible for people like me.
Like Waldenpond said, it is probably not wise to list all the items going on in the portal. The work around to that would be, we can add another membership type which is more restrictive. This membership group will have only members whose identities have been verified. Once this group is created, IV can post all the happenings accessible to them. This will help people like me who are unable to be part of any state chapter to know what is happening at IV. Keep our sprits high.
Thank you
The primary reason for disconnects and inability towards working in structure is because IV is primarily a volunteer organization and everyone are unpaid volunteers.
I agree that a lot of State chapters are not functional. some of them were reborn after death, some are very active some are not - as a matter of fact I lead the Tri State chapter and this had to be reborn as it was lead by someone else before and they did what they could and gave up. Now we have some wonderful chapter members who are really helping out and doing a great job. we combined the 3 states for better numbers and better coordination. the leads have strived very hard and continue to strive hard.
There are times when other things take up priority and the leadership may not be in a position to be active.
I think part of the frustration is because there do not seem to be frequest updates these days.
This is what I recommend. Contact the state chapter leader who is nearest to your state. You can join the state chapter.
For some very important reasons, updates canot be posted on the website.
With regard to eb3_nepa's case - I think he is from Tri State area doors are always open for him to join the state chapter
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mhathi
06-05 06:20 PM
Called all of the representatives on the list and left voicemails for legal reps. I have voted on the poll.
mhathi.
mhathi.
more...
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smodekurti
10-12 05:23 PM
Guys
Please do update us if any of you or your respective attorneys have received the notice from USCIS. I am in touch with the attorney of my previous company and hope to have something next week. Will keep you posted but looks like USCIS has started this exercise only recently as we have not seen this kind of posts in the past or as SmartBoy mentioned, many of us might not have created a portfolio to check the status of all the approvals we received so far on our immigration journey.
Please do update us if any of you or your respective attorneys have received the notice from USCIS. I am in touch with the attorney of my previous company and hope to have something next week. Will keep you posted but looks like USCIS has started this exercise only recently as we have not seen this kind of posts in the past or as SmartBoy mentioned, many of us might not have created a portfolio to check the status of all the approvals we received so far on our immigration journey.
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GCBy3000
02-14 10:04 AM
Exactly true but hard to beleive. Think how much you know about your home country immigration. That should answer this question. Most of my american colleagues are suprised to hear
1. It is risk to buy house? Why? I am on H1b visa. What is that?
My wife cannot work? WHy? she is on H4? What is that?
I cannot jump companies as my gc is in progress? Why? Will you get your gc in next three months? No.
When you will get your gc? May be after 6 years or later.
WHATTTTTTTTTTTTTTTT... WHY? etc etc
They do not know anything and they do not care.
Spot on. i think the anti-immigrants grossly magnify the hue and cry over H1-B abuses. Most americans dont know what H1-B is and nor do they care. The only immigrants they have heard about are the illegal kind. Ordinary americans are mostly indifferent to legal immigration. Politicians care first for their votebanks (present and future) and second for their sources of funding aka corporate lobbies. They are the ones who have the ability to make a difference.
1. It is risk to buy house? Why? I am on H1b visa. What is that?
My wife cannot work? WHy? she is on H4? What is that?
I cannot jump companies as my gc is in progress? Why? Will you get your gc in next three months? No.
When you will get your gc? May be after 6 years or later.
WHATTTTTTTTTTTTTTTT... WHY? etc etc
They do not know anything and they do not care.
Spot on. i think the anti-immigrants grossly magnify the hue and cry over H1-B abuses. Most americans dont know what H1-B is and nor do they care. The only immigrants they have heard about are the illegal kind. Ordinary americans are mostly indifferent to legal immigration. Politicians care first for their votebanks (present and future) and second for their sources of funding aka corporate lobbies. They are the ones who have the ability to make a difference.
more...
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akhilmahajan
01-31 12:08 PM
i have emailed it to the new england local chapter, so hopefully can get some more votes.
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sku
09-17 12:33 PM
https://writerep.house.gov/writerep/welcome.shtml
This link can help you to find your congressmen , when you get the name , you can goto that congressman's website and look for contact info there
This link can help you to find your congressmen , when you get the name , you can goto that congressman's website and look for contact info there
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pani_6
09-17 01:28 PM
If today its approved in the house..we are done..it goes the Prez for signing and we all add another card to our wallets:o
OUR BILL H.R.5882 HAS GOT TO BE APPROVED BY BOTH CONGRESS (HOUSE AND SENATE) BEFORE SEPTEMBER 26TH, 2008 ie., COMING FRIDAY.
THERE WILL BE NO CONGRESS AFTER SEPTEMBER 26TH.
OUR BILL H.R.5882 HAS GOT TO BE APPROVED BY BOTH CONGRESS (HOUSE AND SENATE) BEFORE SEPTEMBER 26TH, 2008 ie., COMING FRIDAY.
THERE WILL BE NO CONGRESS AFTER SEPTEMBER 26TH.
cooldesi
04-02 06:28 PM
there are two factors here:
1. Regarding consultant coming to US. As employer told he does not have bonafide job offer. he is at 0% fault and consultant 100%.
2. Regarding paying for h1b fee. employer obviously did not make money here but he was not supposed to take money from consultant.
it's all about greed on both sides.
1. Regarding consultant coming to US. As employer told he does not have bonafide job offer. he is at 0% fault and consultant 100%.
2. Regarding paying for h1b fee. employer obviously did not make money here but he was not supposed to take money from consultant.
it's all about greed on both sides.
sobers
02-22 09:51 AM
Bill Frist Website
http://frist.senate.gov/index.cfm?FuseAction=Columns.Detail&Column_id=82
AMERICA MUST NURTURE HOMEGROWN HIGH-TECHNOLOGY WORKFORCE
--Op/Ed in San Jose Mercury News--
Senator Frist listens as Dr. James Wingate, President of LeMoyne-Owen College in Tennessee, expresses support for the inclusion of the SMART Grant program in this week's Senate budget reconciliation bill, 11/2/05
February 2006 - Every time I visit Silicon Valley I'm reminded of a simple fact: American businesses lead the world because they employ talented people. From the top executives at companies like Apple and Cisco to the science and engineering students I'll speak with Monday at San Jose State University, Americans sit on the cutting edge of technology.
We have less than 5 percent of the world's population but produce almost a quarter of its wealth and enjoy the highest per capita income of any large industrial economy. Americans receive more patents than the citizens of any other country, have the world's best university system, do most of the world's basic research, and take home the lion's share of Nobel Prizes in the sciences.
As many people working in Northern California's technology sector have realized, however, we can't afford complacence. China and India together now produce at least twice as many engineers as the United States. Both have fast growing populations and high-quality universities. In search of profits, companies have begun to outsource more low- and medium-skilled jobs to these nations.
No amount of funding, furthermore, would allow the United States to catch -- much less exceed -- China and India's combined production of scientific personnel. We just don't have enough people. Even at our own universities, foreigners earn an ever-increasing percentage of degrees in the hard sciences. Some remain, but many end up taking their valuable skills back home. American companies, meanwhile, have thousands of scientific and engineering openings that they can't fill.
If we hope to remain the world's pre-eminent economic power,/ we need to produce more scientists and engineers and train them better. One recent study, indeed, found that 85 percent of income growth stems from technological change.
While every American deserves a high-quality education, we need to target additional resources on the most talented students to ensure America retains its competitive edge. In particular, we need to provide an incentive to all of America's bright, driven low-income students who want to pursue careers in the sciences. Right now, far too many talented students from poor backgrounds drop out of college or shift away from hard science because of the expense. It's bad for the country.
One program that the president signed into law earlier this year takes the first major step toward fixing the problem. The SMART Grant program, which I developed, will focus assistance on students in science, math and strategic foreign languages who earn B averages or better during their junior and senior years of college. Next year, the California State University system estimates, more than 3,000 students systemwide -- including many at San Jose State -- will benefit from the program. Many will have their tuition payments eliminated entirely and the numbers will rise in coming years as the program attracts more people into the sciences. Thousands more students in the University of California system will also benefit.
Of course, tuition subsidies alone can't ensure that we'll have enough talented workers. In the coming months, Congress will consider the president's proposals to improve K-12 math education, increase funding for basic research, support high-risk/high-reward applied science projects, and make the research and development tax credit permanent. Fiscal realities, of course, will play a role in any final decision as Congress examines these proposals.
Silicon Valley companies already do an excellent job recruiting America's best and brightest. Now the government needs to build on its efforts to increase the ranks of homegrown scientists and engineers.
http://frist.senate.gov/index.cfm?FuseAction=Columns.Detail&Column_id=82
AMERICA MUST NURTURE HOMEGROWN HIGH-TECHNOLOGY WORKFORCE
--Op/Ed in San Jose Mercury News--
Senator Frist listens as Dr. James Wingate, President of LeMoyne-Owen College in Tennessee, expresses support for the inclusion of the SMART Grant program in this week's Senate budget reconciliation bill, 11/2/05
February 2006 - Every time I visit Silicon Valley I'm reminded of a simple fact: American businesses lead the world because they employ talented people. From the top executives at companies like Apple and Cisco to the science and engineering students I'll speak with Monday at San Jose State University, Americans sit on the cutting edge of technology.
We have less than 5 percent of the world's population but produce almost a quarter of its wealth and enjoy the highest per capita income of any large industrial economy. Americans receive more patents than the citizens of any other country, have the world's best university system, do most of the world's basic research, and take home the lion's share of Nobel Prizes in the sciences.
As many people working in Northern California's technology sector have realized, however, we can't afford complacence. China and India together now produce at least twice as many engineers as the United States. Both have fast growing populations and high-quality universities. In search of profits, companies have begun to outsource more low- and medium-skilled jobs to these nations.
No amount of funding, furthermore, would allow the United States to catch -- much less exceed -- China and India's combined production of scientific personnel. We just don't have enough people. Even at our own universities, foreigners earn an ever-increasing percentage of degrees in the hard sciences. Some remain, but many end up taking their valuable skills back home. American companies, meanwhile, have thousands of scientific and engineering openings that they can't fill.
If we hope to remain the world's pre-eminent economic power,/ we need to produce more scientists and engineers and train them better. One recent study, indeed, found that 85 percent of income growth stems from technological change.
While every American deserves a high-quality education, we need to target additional resources on the most talented students to ensure America retains its competitive edge. In particular, we need to provide an incentive to all of America's bright, driven low-income students who want to pursue careers in the sciences. Right now, far too many talented students from poor backgrounds drop out of college or shift away from hard science because of the expense. It's bad for the country.
One program that the president signed into law earlier this year takes the first major step toward fixing the problem. The SMART Grant program, which I developed, will focus assistance on students in science, math and strategic foreign languages who earn B averages or better during their junior and senior years of college. Next year, the California State University system estimates, more than 3,000 students systemwide -- including many at San Jose State -- will benefit from the program. Many will have their tuition payments eliminated entirely and the numbers will rise in coming years as the program attracts more people into the sciences. Thousands more students in the University of California system will also benefit.
Of course, tuition subsidies alone can't ensure that we'll have enough talented workers. In the coming months, Congress will consider the president's proposals to improve K-12 math education, increase funding for basic research, support high-risk/high-reward applied science projects, and make the research and development tax credit permanent. Fiscal realities, of course, will play a role in any final decision as Congress examines these proposals.
Silicon Valley companies already do an excellent job recruiting America's best and brightest. Now the government needs to build on its efforts to increase the ranks of homegrown scientists and engineers.
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