Option one for H-1B proponents: stand-alone legislation like the SKIL bill, defeated last year but reintroduced in both the House and Senate in April. The "Securing Knowledge, Innovation and Leadership Act" -- would raise the cap to 115,000 visas and provide market-based mechanisms for further hikes. The may not try this one because it would likely provoke a reaction similar to that of the ill fated Immigration Bill.
Option two: increasing the cap through an amendment to a spending bill. That is how they have succeeded in the past.
Option three: tacking an H-1B provision to one of a number of bills that Congress is considering as part of the Democratic parties so-called Innovation Agenda. But the IT industry doesn't want to endorse legislation that is seen as partisan as it will alienate backers from the other party.
The Washington-based Software & Information Industry Association. issued a statement today saying that the high-tech industry will have trouble finding enough skilled workers if the H-1B cap isn't raised (download PDF).
We need to keep our eyes and ears open for the next salvo of the H-1B battle. We need to lay the H1B bills in the grave next to the ill fated Immigration Bill, it is time the American I.T. professionals are paid commensurate with their value to American Corporations.
For more on the ongoing H-1B battle check out The Programmers Guilds: NASSCOM's claim that only "small Indian companies"... and Computer Worlds: Senate bill's H-1B provisions aren't making anyone happy
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