What is new is that two weeks ago the INS informed us that demand for these visas is running 50,000 ahead of last year. In addition, the INS reported that the number of visas the INS approved last year above what the law allowed was more than 21,000. So, there is obviously a significant growth in demand for foreign high-tech workers. Given the importance of the high-tech industry to our economy, I think we should give the industry the benefit of the doubt and accommodate the current level of demand. Since demand is currently the only information Congress has on this issue.
Demand drives the process.
The new Temporary Worker Temporary Relief Act I am introducing today will set no limits on the number of skilled temporary foreign workers we admit during the next three years. Let the market determine how many foreign skilled workers we need rather than have Congress set limits based on arbitrary numbers. This bill responds generously to the immediate temporary needs of the high-tech industry and also includes provisions that are good for American workers. It will require companies applying for these visas to show they have increased the number of American employees and increased compensation to American employees. This bill requires employers to file public reports on skilled temporary foreign workers they have hired, what jobs they've been assigned to do, and the wages they are paid.