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ARLINGTON, VA – The Electronics Industries Alliance reports Rep. John Shadegg (R-Ariz.) introduced the Securing Knowledge Innovation and Leadership (SKIL) Bill on Wednesday. The legislation includes provisions crucial to companies in the U.S. information and communications technology industry that employ highly educated foreign professionals. An identical measure, S. 1083, was introduced last week by Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas.

The EIA said Congress should reform the H-1B and employment-based visa programs this year to allow U.S. technology companies to hire the skilled workers they need to compete. The association urged lawmakers to make SKIL part of any comprehensive immigration reform package.

The SKIL Bill will raise the H-1B cap from 65,000 to 115,000; apply the current 20,000 cap exemption to those with a master's degree or higher from an institution of higher education in a foreign country, not just the U.S.; raise the limit on employment-based visas from 140,000 to 290,000 per year; extend post-degree employment for optional practical training to 24 months for all F visa students; create a new F-1 visa for students coming to pursue a U.S. STEM bachelor's or higher degree; create a pre-certification program to streamline the adjudication process for petitions for employers with a track record of compliance; and permit domestic visa revalidation/renewal.

In addition, U.S. Sen. Chuck Hagel (R-Neb.) sponsored The High Tech Worker Relief Act to make more H-1B visas available in fiscal years 2007 and 2008 and exempt U.S. advanced degree holders from the cap.