This Week in Tech: Tech on edge as immigration vote nears

{mosads}Tech companies also oppose an amendment by Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) that would prevent the Department of Homeland Security from granting any non-immigrant visa for a year if a company files for mass layoffs under a federal labor law known as the Warn Act.

In recent days, tech executives and trade associations have been rallying senators to preserve the framework in Gang of Eight bill and reject amendments that would threaten the bill’s final passage.

In the lower chamber, meanwhile, the House Judiciary Committee is expected to mark up a high-skilled immigration bill from Rep. Darrell Issa (R-Calif.). The markup will come after the panel finishes its work on an e-verify bill, perhaps as early as mid-week.

It’s unclear how Democrats on the Judiciary Committee will come down on Issa’s measure. To offset making more green cards available to highly skilled workers, Issa’s bill would cut a visa program that Democrats are keen to preserve. The visa program on the chopping block has been used to grant visas to people from countries with low rates of immigration to the United States.

On Monday, the Brent Scowcroft Center at the Atlantic Council will host a panel discussion on China’s cyber hacking campaign against the U.S. and how it will impact the U.S.-Sino relationship. Panelists include CrowdStrike co-founder Dmitri Alperovitch; James Mulvenon, director of the Center for Intelligence Research and Analysis at Defense Group Inc.; and Delta Risk CEO Greg Rattray.

Twitter CEO Dick Costolo will talk about the company’s future and his views on its role in politics, news and world events at the Brookings Institution on Wednesday. Brookings Senior Fellow Jonathan Rauch will moderate the discussion.

The House Energy and Commerce’s subpanel on communications and technology will hold a hearing on Thursday that examines how to meet the needs of wireless carriers and agencies during a time of limited spectrum and financial resources.

The Federal Communications Commission will also hold its open meeting on Thursday. The commission is slated to receive an update on the Universal Service Reform implementation and the TV broadcast incentive auction for spectrum.