Julie M. Donnelly
Reporter- Boston Business Journal
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The Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce has announced it is one of 25 founding members of a national business coalition called “Business for Skilled Worker Immigration,” which seeks to overhaul immigration law for skilled workers in order to drive job creation.
The local startup community has recently been working to raise awareness of the challenges foreign entrepreneurs have in staying in the country legally as they build their businesses.
The Chamber said the coalition will urge Congress to address this important talent issue as part of broader-based immigration reform expected to be taken up in the new Congressional session. The group will advocate for increasing the number of so-called H1B visas for skilled workers, increasing the number of green cards for university graduates and workers in STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) fields, and creating startup visas specifically for immigrant company founders.
“Current U.S. immigration policy has proven inadequate to address the needs of companies in the globalized, 21st Century economy,” Paul Guzzi, president and CEO of the Greater Boston Chamber, said in a statement. “ We believe the time is right for immigration reform that will improve employers’ ability to access a deeper talent pool and create pathways for more entrepreneurs to launch businesses in this country. We are very pleased at the enthusiastic response by so many leading Chambers, and are optimistic that meaningful reforms will be enacted in the upcoming Congress.”
Coalition members include Chambers of Commerce in Pennsylvania, Arizona, California, North Carolina, Indiana, Kentucky, Virginia, New Mexico, Texas, Alabama, Washington and Missouri.
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