Tech group urges passage of immigration legislation

Sens. John Kerry (D-Mass.) and Dick Lugar (R-Ind.), the chairman and ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, respectively, first introduced their new visa bill this week.

In a statement issued Wednesday, Kerry described their legislation as an essential tool for ensuring the United States remained competitive globally.

“Everywhere Dick Lugar and I travel for the Foreign Relations Committee, we see firsthand the entrepreneurial spirit driving the economies of our competitors,” Kerry said. “Creating a new magnet for innovations and innovators to come to the United States and create jobs here will offer our economy a double shot in the arm – robust job creation at home and reaffirmation that we’re the world’s best place to do business.”

Lugar later added the legislation would further improve the country’s ability to innovate new technologies and services.

“Our country should strive to attract to the United States the most talented and highly skilled entrepreneurs,” the senator explained. “We should channel the power of innovative thinkers from around the world and American investors towards creating jobs and encouraging economic growth and future prosperity.”