Cornyn Introduces Bill to Win Global Competition for STEM Graduates
WASHINGTON – U.S. Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary’s Immigration, Refugees, and Border Security Subcommittee, today introduced the Securing the Talent America Requires for the 21st Century or “STAR Act,” legislation designed to retain top foreign students earning graduate degrees in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) from American universities:
“In the global competition for the world’s best and brightest minds in math and science, the United States should take a backseat to no one.
“I am confident the STAR Act will bolster American competitiveness and provide a stronger foundation for long-term economic growth and job creation.”
Nearly half of U.S. Master’s and Ph.D. degree recipients in STEM-related fields come from outside the country, but the lack of a sensible and coherent immigration policy is causing our nation to lose many entrepreneurs and job creators to competitors abroad. The STAR Act will reform the process by:
· Allocating 55,000 immigrant visas for eligible STEM graduates (Master’s and Ph.D.) of qualifying U.S. research institutions who have job offers in related fields;
· Offsetting these allocations by eliminating the so-called “Diversity Visa” lottery program; and
· Streamlining STEM graduate students’ ability to obtain green cards and remain in the United States by allowing “dual-intent” for those admitted to pursue a STEM degree.
You can read full text of the legislation on Sen. Cornyn’s website here.
Senator Cornyn serves on the Finance, Judiciary, Armed Services and Budget Committees. He serves as the top Republican on the Judiciary Committee’s Immigration, Refugees and Border Security subcommittee. He served previously as Texas Attorney General, Texas Supreme Court Justice, and Bexar County District Judge.