Letter from Obama

Date: Tuesday, November 20, 2007 5:21 PM

<<<<< JOB DESTRUCTION NEWSLETTER No. 1786 -- 11/20/2007 >>>>>

A constituent from Illinois named Tony Bravos used an online email service to
send presidential candidate Barack Obama some of his concerns about the H-1B
visa program.

The service is sponsored by the John Birch Society and it's available for the
public to use for free. They have faxes and emails for a variety of issues
including immigration, globalization, and H-1B. You can check out the website
at:

http://capwiz.com/jbs/home/

Obama's response letter, in contrast to the campaign technology platform
discussed in the previous newsletter, is very decisive when it comes to
supporting an expansion of the H-1B visa program. In the first paragraph of
the letter Obama comes right out and says that he wants to increase the number
of H-1B visas.

Obama tries to assure Tony with a few platitudes that American workers are
protected from being replaced or underbid by H-1B visa holders. Empty
responses of this type indicate the Obama campaign is sending out form letters
to everybody who asks a question about H-1B. Obviously the staffer who
received the letter paid no attention to the link Tony provided to a GAO study
that totally contradicts Obama's assurances that H-1B won't hurt American
workers. You can bet Obama will never see the letter or read the link either
because like most politicians, he wouldn't want facts to get in his way.

Notice how Obama intentionally uses the uncertain term "should" in the passage
below. He prefers to talk about what he thinks H-1B should instead of what it
does do.

Also, H-1B visa holders should be paid a fair market wage
for their work, not less than what an American worker would
make for performing the same work. The program should not
undercut existing wage structures by importing foreign
workers.

The response letter to Obama immediately follows the letter sent by Tony.
The large time delay between the letters may due to the fact that Tony sent
the message several times until he got an answer.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Letter to Obama
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

America
Date: Tue, 27 Mar 2007 17:20:59 -0400 (EDT)

Thank you for using The John Birch Society Mail System

Message sent to the following recipients:
Senator Obama

March 27, 2007

Anthony Bravos
Woodstock, IL

Dear Senator Obama,

With job loss running rampant in America, just due to H-1B visa holders alone,
we hear from government that companies MUST attempt to find an American before
seeking a foreign national and sponsoring their visa. This is not only NOT the
case, but it's also been the subject of those trying to mislead the American
people.

We political activists have found proof which can be found in a document
(PDF) published by the GAO in 2006 - the report is titled "H-1B Visa Program -
More Oversight by Labor Can Improve Compliance with Program Requirements".

You can find the report at this link:
http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d06901t.pdf

The following quote (and proof) is from page 5 of that document:

"H-1B dependent employers and willful violator employers were not required to
make the additional attestations, and, in effect, were able to hire H-1B
workers even if they displaced U.S. workers and did not make efforts to
recruit U.S. workers. "

There is proof right there and explains why no American company has been
prosecuted for hiring a foreign national while Americans are willing, read,
and available for work.

It is time for government to abandon all the excuses for letting down American
workers. It is time for this government to represent it's citizens and take a
firm stand on behalf of voters.

I hereby DEMAND that congress abandon all temporary/non-immigrant work visas
so that Americans may be gainfully employed. This government is intended FOR
citizens, and NOT to be run by corporations.

Any government official unwilling to represent Americans first by placing
demands on companies to hire Americans, with laws having teeth for
enforcemennt, has no business being in this government.

Sincerely,
Anthony Bravos
Unemployed Software Consultant,
Displaced American Worker,
American citizen and voter,
Political Activist

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Letter From Obama
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Date: Thu, 1 Nov 2007 10:15:53 -0400

Dear Anthony:

Thank you for writing me with your concerns about the H-1B visa program. I
share your concern about the potential for abuse and agree that the H-1B visa
program should be carefully monitored. However, I do believe that the limited
increase in visas for highly skilled immigrants will benefit the economy.

I understand and have heard your concerns about the H-1B visa program and its
potential effect on the jobs and wages of American workers. The intent is that
H-1B visas only be issued if qualified American workers are unable to take the
jobs in question. Also, H-1B visa holders should be paid a fair market wage
for their work, not less than what an American worker would make for
performing the same work. The program should not undercut existing wage
structures by importing foreign workers.

It should be kept in mind that the demand for these workers is well
documented. When the H-1B annual numerical limits reverted to 65,000 from
195,000, the Fiscal Year 2004 limit was reached in mid-February 2004, and the
Fiscal Year 2005 limit was reached on October 1, 2004, the first day of the
fiscal year. The FY 2008 limit was reached in the first two days.

There is no question that we need to create more jobs for American workers.
And, using the technology sector as an example, the economic production of
companies assisted by workers on H-1B visas in 1998 created more than $16.8
billion in sales and over 58,000 jobs, the great majority of which are going
to American workers. Immigrants with H1-B visas are not the cause of the
squeeze on middle class families. Tax, workforce, and infrastructure policies
that favor the wealthy at the expense of greater deficits hurt working class
Americans. Failing to address the health care crisis in America while favoring
pharmaceutical companies hurts working Americans.
Blaming H1-B visas will not help us rise to meet these challenges.

I fully agree, however, that H-1B hires should be a last recourse as a matter
of labor policy. I support the efforts of the Departments of Labor and
Homeland Security to ensure that employers and H-1B applicants follow the
intent and restrictions of the program. For example, it is incumbent upon the
Department of Labor to monitor the wages being paid to H-1B visa holders and
enforce the H-1B program's provision that wages reflect the current job
market.

As this debate continues, Congress must assess how the H-1B visa affects job
opportunities for Americans and wages in the relevant sectors. I look forward
to working with the Departments of Labor and Homeland Security and my
colleagues in Congress to determine where there may be gaps in the enforcement
of the program as it stands. I would also like to explore increasing the
burden on employers to prove that all attempts had been made to hire qualified
American workers. I then will take the appropriate steps to protect the
interests of American workers.

Again, thank you for writing me about the H-1B visa program. Please stay in
touch on any issue of concern to you.

Sincerely,

Barack Obama
United States Senator

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