NAFSA Urges Congress to Take ACTION to Restore U.S. Competitiveness for International TalentOn February 14, Senator Norm Coleman (R – Minn.) and Senator Jeff Bingaman (D – N.M.) introduced S.2653, the American Competitiveness Through International Openness Now (ACTION) Act of 2008. This key piece of legislation addresses many of the specific barriers to international educational and scientific exchange, as well as international business travel, that have raised widespread concern among lawmakers, business leaders, foreign-policy experts, and the higher-education community about the United States' competitiveness as a destination for the world's talent.
America's strength and leadership comes in large part from its historic ability to attract the best and brightest from around the world to its colleges and universities. Yet the well-intended security policies put in place after the events of 9/11 have had the unintended result of stifling the ability of these students, scholars, and scientists to travel here for study, research, or even attend a conference. In the meantime, the global marketplace is shifting, and our competitors—namely the United Kingdom, Australia, and the European Union—have established coordinated strategies to attract international students and scholars to their colleges and universities, while China and India, who traditionally have sent a large number of students and scholars to the United States, are building up their own capacity in order to retain more of their own students as well as attract international students. Yet America's own efforts in this area continue to languish.
The ACTION Act helps put the United States back in the lead. It establishes a U.S. government-led strategic plan to attract international students and scholars to the United States; removes the non-immigrant intent provision for international students; adds greater certainty and transparency to the visa security clearance process for scientists; creates a "Trusted Traveler" program to allow for expedited visa review for frequent, low-risk visitors and for international students and scholars who have left the United States temporarily and are seeking a renewal to resume their programs; amends Real ID provisions to allow legitimate international students, scholars, and exchange visitors to receive a driver's license valid for the length of their approved activities; and reinstates domestic visa renewal for certain employment-based visas.
NAFSA fully supports this bipartisan effort to restore U.S. competitiveness for international talent, and urges Congress to pass this important legislation.
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View NAFSA's report, "Restoring U.S. Competitiveness for International Students and Scholars"
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About NAFSA
NAFSA is the world’s largest membership association dedicated to international education. With nearly 10,000 members, the association seeks to increase awareness of and support for international education and exchange in higher education, government, and the community, believing that citizens with international experience and global awareness are crucial to U.S. leadership, competitiveness, and security. 