WASHINGTON -- The Senate Judiciary Committee yesterday voted to double the number of H-1B visas for highly skilled foreign workers as part of a controversial immigration bill that faces a tough fight in Congress.
The proposed measure, which would raise the number of H-1B visas to 115,000, with an option of raising the cap 20% more each year, was included in the Senate's immigration bill.
The committee passed the bill 12-6. It now goes before the full Senate.
H1-B visas are controversial as many tech companies insist on them and yet critics claim they come at the expense of American workers who would otherwise fill those jobs.
H-1B visas are currently capped at 65,000 a year. The visas are good for six years.
The Judiciary Committee proposal would increase the annual cap of H-1B visas to 115,000 beginning in 2007 while maintaining all existing exemptions, a move that would effectively would boost the number of H-1B visas to nearly 300,000 a year, according to published reports.
LONDON -- The U.K. Department of Trade and Industry has completed its implementation review of the WEEE directive and is now holding informal discussions with companies on "whether the implementation proposals will deliver the
objectives and obligations set by the directive in an effective and
efficient way.”
The DTI emphasized, however, that further review of the implementation plans will not be sought.