Immigration Politics – Cal 2013 – Starter Packet

Turns Navy

Effective immigration reform’s key to naval power

Council on Competitiveness 9

[ “Mobilizing a World Class Energy Workforce” December -- http://www.compete.org/images/uploads/File/PDF%20Files/CoC_-_Pillar_6_Handout_-_Mobilizing_a_World-Class_Energy_Workforce,_Dec09.pdf]

America currently lacks an energy workforce of sufficient size and capabilities to meet the needs ¶ of a sustainable, secure energy system.1¶ With increasing demand come abundant job ¶ opportunities in both traditional and emerging energy industries. Unfortunately, U.S. workers are ¶ neither aware nor sufficiently prepared to take them. Moreover, with an aging population and the ¶ retirement of the baby boomers well under way, there is an inadequate pipeline of replacement ¶ workers, technicians and managers to succeed them. ¶ The United States stands to lose half of its electric power industry workforce within the next five to ten ¶ years due to retirement. America’s oil and gas workforce averages 50 years in age; half are likely to retire ¶ soon. Workers in these conventional energy sector jobs, from power plant operators to transmission line ¶ and pipeline workers, are retiring at a much faster rate than they are being replaced. The introduction of ¶ any new energy technologies will not compensate for this workforce shortage. For example, in the nuclear ¶ industry, the fact that there has been no new construction of a nuclear facility in the United States in over ¶ 30 years has led to the atrophy of skills, the loss of technicians, the dearth of American students in ¶ nuclear engineering and a national security risk for the primarily nuclear-powered U.S. Navy. 2 The development, installation and ¶ maintenance of new technologies ¶ require skills at all levels of educational ¶ training. Many of these jobs, such as ¶ building new power plants, cannot be ¶ exported and will remain in the United ¶ States. So-called “green collar” jobs ¶ could fill this gap over time and provide ¶ for significant domestic employment ¶ growth, but capitalizing on this ¶ opportunity will require government ¶ being proactive in developing programs ¶ to provide the necessary skills. ¶ Government should provide a 21st ¶ century education to match the 21st ¶ century job opportunities, requirements ¶ and needs. ¶ There is growing global competition for ¶ scientific and engineering talent today,¶ and the U.S. pipeline of students is ¶ slowing.3¶ The private sector, where the overwhelming majority of careers will be, knows best the current ¶ opportunities that are not being met. Executives cite the lack of scientific, engineering and skilled talent as¶ among the most serious challenges facing their businesses today.4¶ They know what skills will be required ¶ and can assist in developing the workforce of the future by working closely with educational institutions as ¶ well as within their own organizations.

Skilled Labor Impact – 1^st Line

CIR’s key to STEM worker infusion

Jones ‘13

(Richard M. Jones Government Relations Division American Institute of Physics, “Immigration Reform Would Enhance STEM Workforce” FYI: The AIP Bulletin of Science Policy News, Number 20 - January 31, 2013, American Institute of Physics)

Momentum is increasing on both ends of Pennsylvania Avenue to change the way in which visas would be provided to recent college graduates and professionals in science, technology, engineering and mathematics fields. There have been three significant events this week related to the reform of immigration law, all of which are intended to strengthen the STEM workforce in the United States.¶ During a January 29 speech on immigration, President Obama stated “the time has come for common-sense, comprehensive immigration reform.” Stressing that by doing so “we can strengthen our economy and strengthen our country’s future,” he said:¶ “There’s another economic reason why we need reform. It’s not just about the folks who come here illegally and have the effect they have on our economy. It’s also about the folks who try to come here legally but have a hard time doing so, and the effect that has on our economy.¶ “Right now, there are brilliant students from all over the world sitting in classrooms at our top universities. They’re earning degrees in the fields of the future, like engineering and computer science. But once they finish school, once they earn that diploma, there’s a good chance they’ll have to leave our country. Think about that.¶ “Intel was started with the help of an immigrant who studied here and then stayed here. Instagram was started with the help of an immigrant who studied here and then stayed here. Right now in one of those classrooms, there’s a student wrestling with how to turn their big idea - their Intel or Instagram - into a big business. We’re giving them all the skills they need to figure that out, but then we’re going to turn around and tell them to start that business and create those jobs in China or India or Mexico or someplace else? That’s not how you grow new industries in America. That’s how you give new industries to our competitors. That’s why we need comprehensive immigration reform.”¶ The White House released a Fact Sheet regarding the President’s proposal that includes the following:¶ “’Staple’ green cards to advanced STEM diplomas. The proposal encourages foreign graduate students educated in the United States to stay here and contribute to our economy by ‘stapling’ a green card to the diplomas of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) PhD and Master’s Degree graduates from qualified U.S. universities who have found employment in the United States. It also requires employers to pay a fee that will support education and training to grow the next generation of American workers in STEM careers.”¶ The U.S. Department of Homeland Security defines a “green card” as follows: "A Green Card holder (permanent resident) is someone who has been granted authorization to live and work in the United States on a permanent basis. As proof of that status, a person is granted a permanent resident card, commonly called a ‘Green Card.’"¶ Also in the President’s proposal:¶ “Create a new visa category for employees of federal national security science and technology laboratories. The proposal creates a new visa category for a limited number of highly-skilled and specialized immigrants to work in federal science and technology laboratories on critical national security needs after being in the United States for two years and passing rigorous national security and criminal background checks.”