AEA Says H-1B Visas Legislative Agreement Will HelpMaintain High Tech Firms Competitive...

WASHINGTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--July 24, 1998--The American Electronics Association (AEA) applauds the House/Senate agreement on raising the cap on the number on temporary workers that high-tech companies can hire through the H-1B visa program.

"This compromise will help preserve the global

"The growth of our industry has been nothing short of spectacular, creating 200,000 new jobs in 1997 and exporting goods valued at more than $170 billion. To continue this impressive growth, high-tech companies must have access to the best and brightest workers from throughout the world.

"The compromise reached today on the H-1B visa cap will ensure that America's high-tech companies have access to highly-skilled workers, which in turn will enable them to maintain their competitive advantage in the global marketplace," Archey added.

AEA also commends those legislators who participated in the discussions that lead to the compromise reached today. "Congress recognized that reaching a compromise on legislation to increase the H-1B visa cap was critical to the continued success of the high-tech industry," according to Archey. "The hard work put forward by Sen. Spencer Abraham (R-MI), Rep. Lamar Smith (R-TX) and others have ensured that America's high-tech industry will maintain its global leadership."

The American Electronics Association is the largest high tech trade group, representing more than 3,000 U.S.-based technology companies. Membership spans the industry from telecommunications and computer firms to software and semiconductor companies. For more than 50 years, AEA has been the accepted voice of the U.S. electronics community.

    CONTACT: AEA
              John Hatch, 408/987-4232
              John_hatch@aeanet.org