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.

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