In a message dated 11/20/07 5:20:06 P.M. Central Standard Time, News@JobDestruction.info writes:
<<<<< JOB DESTRUCTION NEWSLETTER No. 1786 -- 11/20/2007 >>>>>
A constituent from Illinois named Tony Bravos used an online email service
to send presidential candidate Barack Obama some of his concerns about the
H-1B visa program.
The service is sponsored by the John Birch Society and it's available for
the public to use for free. They have faxes and emails for a variety of
issues including immigration, globalization, and H-1B. You can check out
the website at:
http://capwiz.com/jbs/home/
Obama's response letter, in contrast to the campaign technology platform
discussed in the previous newsletter, is very decisive when it comes to
supporting an expansion of the H-1B visa program. In the first paragraph of
the letter Obama comes right out and says that he wants to increase the
number of H-1B visas.
Obama tries to assure Tony with a few platitudes that American workers are
protected from being replaced or underbid by H-1B visa holders. Empty
responses of this type indicate the Obama campaign is sending out form
letters to everybody who asks a question about H-1B. Obviously the staffer
who received the letter paid no attention to the link Tony provided to a
GAO study that totally contradicts Obama's assurances that H-1B won't hurt
American workers. You can bet Obama will never see the letter or read the
link either because like most politicians, he wouldn't want facts to get in
his way.
Notice how Obama intentionally uses the uncertain term "should" in the
passage below. He prefers to talk about what he thinks H-1B should instead
of what it does do.
Also, H-1B visa holders should be paid a fair market wage
for their work, not less than what an American worker would
make for performing the same work. The program should not
undercut existing wage structures by importing foreign
workers.
The response letter to Obama immediately follows the letter sent by Tony.
The large time delay between the letters may due to the fact that Tony sent
the message several times until he got an answer.
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Letter to Obama
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Subject: There is NO LAW requring a company to seek an American for a job
in America
To: "The John Birch Society" <tgbravos@xxxxxxx.com>
From: "The John Birch Society" <tgbravos@xxxxxxx.com>
Date: Tue, 27 Mar 2007 17:20:59 -0400 (EDT)
Thank you for using The John Birch Society Mail System
Message sent to the following recipients:
Senator Obama
March 27, 2007
Anthony Bravos
Woodstock, IL
Dear Senator Obama,
With job loss running rampant in America, just due to H-1B visa holders
alone, we hear from government that companies MUST attempt to find an
American before seeking a foreign national and sponsoring their visa. This
is not only NOT the case, but it's also been the subject of those trying to
mislead the American people.
We political activists have found proof which can be found in a document
(PDF) published by the GAO in 2006 - the report is titled "H-1B Visa
Program - More Oversight by Labor Can Improve Compliance with Program
Requirements".
You can find the report at this link:
http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d06901t.pdf
The following quote (and proof) is from page 5 of that document:
"H-1B dependent employers and willful violator employers were not required
to make the additional attestations, and, in effect, were able to hire H-1B
workers even if they displaced U.S. workers and did not make efforts
to recruit U.S. workers. "
There is proof right there and explains why no American company has been
prosecuted for hiring a foreign national while Americans are willing, read,
and available for work.
It is time for government to abandon all the excuses for letting down
American workers. It is time for this government to represent it's citizens
and take a firm stand on behalf of voters.
I hereby DEMAND that congress abandon all temporary/non-immigrant work
visas so that Americans may be gainfully employed. This government is
intended FOR citizens, and NOT to be run by corporations.
Any government official unwilling to represent Americans first by placing
demands on companies to hire Americans, with laws having teeth for
enforcemennt, has no business being in this government.
Sincerely,
Anthony Bravos
Unemployed Software Consultant,
Displaced American Worker,
American citizen and voter,
Political Activist
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Letter From Obama
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Subject: Message from Senator Barack Obama
From: senator_obama@obama.senate.gov
To: Tony Bravos
Date: Thu, 1 Nov 2007 10:15:53 -0400
Dear Anthony:
Thank you for writing me with your concerns about the H-1B visa program. I
share your concern about the potential for abuse and agree that the H-1B
visa program should be carefully monitored. However, I do believe that the
limited increase in visas for highly skilled immigrants will benefit the
economy.
I understand and have heard your concerns about the H-1B visa program and
its potential effect on the jobs and wages of American workers. The intent
is that H-1B visas only be issued if qualified American workers are unable
to take the jobs in question. Also, H-1B visa holders should be paid a fair
market wage for their work, not less than what an American worker would
make for performing the same work. The program should not undercut existing
wage structures by importing foreign workers.
It should be kept in mind that the demand for these workers is well
documented. When the H-1B annual numerical limits reverted to 65,000 from
195,000, the Fiscal Year 2004 limit was reached in mid-February 2004, and
the Fiscal Year 2005 limit was reached on October 1, 2004, the first day of
the fiscal year. The FY 2008 limit was reached in the first two days.
There is no question that we need to create more jobs for American workers.
And, using the technology sector as an example, the economic production of
companies assisted by workers on H-1B visas in 1998 created more than $16.8
billion in sales and over 58,000 jobs, the great majority of which are
going to American workers. Immigrants with H1-B visas are not the cause of
the squeeze on middle class families. Tax, workforce, and infrastructure
policies that favor the wealthy at the expense of greater deficits hurt
working class Americans. Failing to address the health care crisis in
America while favoring pharmaceutical companies hurts working Americans.
Blaming H1-B visas will not help us rise to meet these challenges.
I fully agree, however, that H-1B hires should be a last recourse as a
matter of labor policy. I support the efforts of the Departments of Labor
and Homeland Security to ensure that employers and H-1B applicants follow
the intent and restrictions of the program. For example, it is incumbent
upon the Department of Labor to monitor the wages being paid to H-1B visa
holders and enforce the H-1B program's provision that wages reflect the
current job market.
As this debate continues, Congress must assess how the H-1B visa affects
job opportunities for Americans and wages in the relevant sectors. I look
forward to working with the Departments of Labor and Homeland Security and
my colleagues in Congress to determine where there may be gaps in the
enforcement of the program as it stands. I would also like to explore
increasing the burden on employers to prove that all attempts had been made
to hire qualified American workers. I then will take the appropriate steps
to protect the interests of American workers.
Again, thank you for writing me about the H-1B visa program. Please stay in
touch on any issue of concern to you.
Sincerely,
Barack Obama
United States Senator
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