Fr. U.S. Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison Joins AC Alliance as Co-Chair to Fight for Common Sense Immigration Reform

WASHINGTON, March 9, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The American Competitiveness Alliance (ACAlliance), a leader in advancing smart immigration policies, today announced that former U.S. Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison will be joining the ACAlliance as Co-Chair, serving alongside former New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson. Senator Hutchison and Governor Richardson will work with the Alliance's supporters and allies to promote the creation of a modern immigration policy that bolsters America's global competitiveness by attracting and keeping talent in the United States.

"As part of the President's commitment to put America first, we must ensure that America remains competitive globally by attracting and retaining the world's best talent," said Senator Hutchison. "If American companies are unable to fill positions requiring specialized talent due to a skills shortage, their ability to compete in a competitive global marketplace will suffer. Our immigration system must ensure that American companies have access to the world's best and brightest talent."

Currently, the U.S. is only able to meet about half of the annual demand for science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) jobs across the country and is on track to face a shortage of five million STEM workers by the end of the decade. If American firms are not able to fill their critical talent needs, they may be forced to move operations offshore, resulting in job losses for native born U.S. workers. Therefore, immigration policy reform – especially focused on the H-1B Visa program – is vital to America's long term economic growth.

High-skilled, specialized immigration has led to a growth in jobs for all Americans and has pushed our lawmakers to pursue policies that focus on retraining workers and promoting science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) education among our own students. We are now finally starting to produce the workforce needed in this 21st century economy, but it is not yet enough.

"At this critical time for our nation's immigration policy, I'm truly honored to have Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison join me as Co-Chair of the ACAlliance" remarked Governor Bill Richardson. Governor Richardson went on to note that while "American businesses face an unprecedented wave of technological change – and the resulting talent demand – they are being held back by immigration policies that were enacted in another era. Senator Hutchison and I will work to ensure that U.S. policymakers implement common sense immigration reform that protects America's global competitiveness."

About the ACAlliance

The American Competitiveness Alliance (ACAlliance) is a coalition of organizations dedicated to advancing modern immigration policies that ensure America's global competitiveness by attracting and keeping talent here in the United States. Led by Co-Chairs former New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson and former Senator Kay Bailey Hutchinson, the ACAlliance works to educate and inform stakeholders of the positive impact immigration reform can have on our economy, while cautioning against proposals that would do our economy harm. Visit us online at www.acalliance.org or follow us on Twitter: @AC_Alliance

SOURCE American Competitiveness Alliance (ACAlliance)

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http://www.acalliance.org