A number of speakers voiced concerns at a May 3 briefing in Washington, DC that the nation’s future competitiveness in science and technology will be undermined by Post-9/11 Visa Policy. ASPB staff attended the briefing in the Senate Hart Office Building along with a number of other representatives from science organizations, universities and staff from Congressional offices.

James Langer, Vice President, National Academy of Sciences, said the current visa policy is failing to determine where protection is essential and to vigorously protect those areas. He said the current policy treats all visa applicants as equally serious threats, even those with clear records as students, researchers and leaders of internationally respected institutions.

“Fifty years ago, many of our scientific leaders came from Europe with names like Einstein, Fermi, Teller, Bethe and von Neumann. Today, they have names like Chaudhary, Narayanamurthy, Yang and Zerhouni,” Langer said. “One third of all U.S. PhDs in science and engineering are now awarded to foreign-born graduate students. We need these new Americans as much now as ever before.”

Several questions on visa policy were fielded by Stewart Verdery, Assistant Secretary for Border and Transportation Security, Policy and Planning, U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

Concerns over the effects visa policy may have on meeting industry demands for a highly trained workforce, were expressed by Elsa Reichmanis, Director, Materials Research Department, Bell Laboratories, Lucent Technologies.

Introductory remarks were given by Senator Jeff Bingaman.