The following statement is attributed to Gary Shapiro, president and CEO, Consumer Technology Association (CTA)®, regarding the proposals by the U.S. Department of Labor and U.S. Department of Homeland Security to reform the H-1B visa program.
 
“In an increasingly competitive world, America’s innovators desperately need immigration reform. However, the administration’s latest proposals fall short of the mark, making it harder to attract the best and brightest and failing to consider the input of innovators who use the H-1B visa program. 
 
“Despite the unprecedented challenges of the global pandemic and current economic climate, American innovators of all sizes have stepped up to provide solutions from video conferencing and telemedicine to contactless delivery of groceries and household supplies. To ensure America continues to lead in innovation, especially during these challenging times, the administration should pursue immigration policies that empower American innovators to hire the best and brightest, not make it more difficult. 

“CTA has long advocated for Congress and the administration to work together to pursue bipartisan and commonsense immigration reform. We urge the administration to rethink their proposals, and work with policymakers on both sides of the aisle to pass immigration reform that ensures America remains competitive.”