X-Received: from ims05.house.gov (ims05.house.gov [143.231.32.157]) by leo.house.gov with ESMTP id i66KCD9m010141 for ; Tue, 6 Jul 2004 16:12:13 -0400 X-Received: by ims05.house.gov with Internet Mail Service (5.5.2657.72) id ; Tue, 6 Jul 2004 16:12:13 -0400 Date: Tue, 06 Jul 2004 16:12:12 -0400 From: "Currinder, Marian" Subject: offshoring info To: "'jmack@wm7d.net'" Delivered-to: jmack@wm7d.net ReSent-Subject: offshoring info X-Original-To: jmack@wm7d.net X-Virus-Scanned: by amavisd-new at wm7d.net X-Virus-Scanned: by amavisd-new at wm7d.net X-Mozilla-Status: 8001 X-Mozilla-Status2: 00000000 X-UIDL: Oa?"!?fn"!)nm"!)/Y!! This message is in MIME format. Since your mail reader does not understand this format, some or all of this message may not be legible. --Boundary_(ID_ezAd6W4pOGjKGtVgQ5yCXQ) Content-type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Dear Mr. Mack, I've pasted the language from a recent letter we sent out on the offshoring of hi-tech jobs. This should provide you with a general sense of Mr. Price's position. Please let me know if you need more information. Sincerely, Marian Marian L. Currinder APSA Congressional Fellow Congressman David Price 2162 Rayburn House Office Building Washington DC 20515 202.225.1784 202.225.2014 (fax) I share your concern about the loss of high tech jobs in the United States. Although the federal government cannot prohibit private companies from moving their operations out of the country, we can attempt to create a favorable climate for businesses that encourages them to stay here. Many states provide favorable tax treatment as an incentive for new businesses to locate or stay within their borders. The federal government can likewise take steps through the tax code to create a more favorable bottom line for companies that keep their operations in the country. For example, Senator John Kerry has suggested that profits of U.S. businesses that produce overseas for the U.S. market should be taxed at the same rate as profits made by companies that produce here at home. Without such a fix, U.S. companies that have shifted operations overseas will continue to reap an estimated $8 billion tax windfall each year. In addition to outsourcing, many U.S. workers have lost jobs or the opportunity for jobs to workers who enter the United States on temporary visas. I am a cosponsor of the USA Jobs Protection Act, H.R. 2849, which would impose additional safeguards to ensure that U.S. workers are not displaced by H-1B and L-1 visa holders. Specifically, H.R. 2849 would prohibit H-1B and L-1 visa holders from displacing American workers within the six month period prior to or following visa issuance, and it would apply this provision to all firms for H-1B visas (currently, only "H-1B dependent" firms are subject to this restriction). In addition, it would authorize the Department of Labor to conduct investigations into the potential violations of the law related to the issuance of both types of visas. For L-1 visas, the bill would prohibit third-party subcontracting; require that L-1 visa holders be paid the prevailing wage; require L-1 workers to have been employed with the company requesting the visa for two of the prior three years; reduce the time an L-1 worker can remain in the United States from seven to five years for executive positions and from five to three years for workers with "specialized knowledge"; and require employers bringing in "specialized knowledge" workers under the L-1 program to demonstrate good faith effort to recruit and hire American workers. Although there are a number of areas in which H.R. 2849 may need to be improved to ensure that H-1B and L-1 visas are used appropriately, it represents a good start and serves as a focal point for highlighting the importance of these issues. Although the United States has been losing manufacturing jobs to developing countries for years, the offshoring of "high wage" jobs is a relatively new issue, and one that we must carefully address. Most economists believe the potential for significantly more of this kind of offshoring is limited, particularly to the extent that we adequately invest in education, training, and innovation here in the United States. If such investments are made, I am confident that we can maintain our competitive edge in the high tech sectors far into the future and can continue to create the high wage, new economy jobs that are so important to us here in the Triangle and to the country as a whole. Thank you again for contacting me. Please continue to keep in touch on issues of concern. --Boundary_(ID_ezAd6W4pOGjKGtVgQ5yCXQ) Content-type: text/html; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-transfer-encoding: quoted-printable offshoring info

Dear Mr. Mack,

I've pasted the language from a recent = letter we sent out on the offshoring of hi-tech jobs.  This should = provide you with a general sense of Mr. Price's position.  Please = let me know if you need more information.

Sincerely,
Marian

Marian L. Currinder
APSA Congressional Fellow
Congressman David Price
2162 Rayburn House Office = Building
Washington DC 20515
202.225.1784
202.225.2014 (fax)



I share your concern about the loss of = high tech jobs in the United States.  Although the federal = government cannot prohibit private companies from moving their = operations out of the country,  we can attempt to create a = favorable climate for businesses that encourages them to stay = here.  Many states provide favorable tax treatment as an incentive = for new businesses to locate or stay within their borders.  The = federal government can likewise take steps through the tax code to = create a more favorable bottom line for companies that keep their = operations in the country.  For example, Senator John Kerry has = suggested that profits of U.S. businesses that produce overseas for the = U.S. market should be taxed at the same rate as profits made by = companies that produce here at home. Without such a fix, U.S. companies = that have shifted operations overseas will continue to reap an = estimated $8 billion tax windfall each year. 

In addition to outsourcing, many U.S. = workers have lost jobs or the opportunity for jobs to workers who enter = the United States on temporary visas.  I am a cosponsor of the USA = Jobs Protection Act, H.R. 2849, which would impose additional = safeguards to ensure that U.S. workers are not displaced by H-1B and = L-1 visa holders.  Specifically, H.R. 2849 would prohibit H-1B and = L-1 visa holders from displacing American workers within the six month = period prior to or following visa issuance, and it would apply this = provision to all firms for H-1B visas (currently, only "H-1B = dependent" firms are subject to this restriction).  In = addition, it would authorize the Department of Labor to conduct = investigations into the potential violations of the law related to the = issuance of both types of visas.

For L-1 visas, the bill would prohibit = third-party subcontracting; require that L-1 visa holders be paid the = prevailing wage; require L-1 workers to have been employed with the = company requesting the visa for two of the prior three years; reduce = the time an L-1 worker can remain in the United States from seven to = five years for executive positions and from five to three years for = workers with "specialized knowledge"; and require employers = bringing in "specialized knowledge" workers under the L-1 = program to demonstrate good faith effort to recruit and hire American = workers.  Although there are a number of areas in which H.R. 2849 = may need to be improved to ensure that H-1B and L-1 visas are used = appropriately, it represents a good start and serves as a focal point = for highlighting the importance of these issues. 

Although the United States has been = losing manufacturing jobs to developing countries for years, the = offshoring of "high wage" jobs is a relatively new issue, and = one that we must carefully address.  Most economists believe the = potential for significantly more of this kind of offshoring is limited, = particularly to the extent that we adequately invest in education, = training, and innovation here in the United States.  If such = investments are made, I am confident that we can maintain our = competitive edge in the high tech sectors far into the future and can = continue to create the high wage, new economy jobs that are so = important to us here in the Triangle and to the country as a whole. =

Thank you again for contacting me. = Please continue to keep in touch on issues of concern.

--Boundary_(ID_ezAd6W4pOGjKGtVgQ5yCXQ)--