Nick Smith, February 29, 2004

We live in a time when global competition for high paying jobs is fierce. The only way to maintain and increase our standard of living is through innovation, technological advancement and hard work. Unfortunately, our schools aren’t producing enough young people with the math and science skills necessary to meet the demand for this growing type of economy. However, our economy has been able to maintain a scientific edge on the rest of the world by attracting gifted foreign scientists and engineers.

My Science Committee recently investigated the impact of increased security measures on foreign students and scholars studying in the U.S. After September 11th, Congress tightened visa rules to protect homeland security. The importance of this effort was underscored by information that one of the 9/11 hijackers was in this country on a student visa, and that two more who had entered the country on tourist visas were granted student visas after the terrorist attacks where they were killed.

At the hearing, we reviewed the changes Congress enacted to prevent terrorists from entering the country posing as students. Witnesses from the Department of Homeland Security, F.B.I., and the State Department, testified that bureaucratic inefficiencies and slow, burdensome red tape under the new security measures have tended to discourage foreign research students from attending American universities.

I am adamant that security should be our priority concern. However, it is important we streamline the existing system without compromising security. Currently, it takes an average of 67 days to run a security check on someone seeking entry to this country for study related to sensitive technologies. Because of this, companies, labs, and universities in Australia, Great Britain, and Canada are actively recruiting foreign research students that would otherwise come here. According to the American Council on Education, nearly half (47%) of 250 graduate institutions polled in the United States showed a decline in applications from international students in the fields of science and engineering.

Let me be very clear that dependence on foreign students and scholars is not a long-term solution. We need to do a better job of encouraging and training students in science and math and the types of jobs that will emerge in the 21st century. In 2002, President Bush signed legislation that I authored creating the Math and Science Partnership program at the National Science Foundation to research better ways to motivate and teach. Last fall, Michigan State University received a $35 million grant to work with 70 school districts in Calhoun and other counties in Michigan and Ohio. Next month I will introduce legislation to create an award for private entities for outstanding efforts to improve math and science education at K-12 schools. It is important that we recognize their efforts, while at the same time cataloging best practices information that can be disseminated around the country.

In the short run, however, the continued contributions of foreign students will be absolutely vital to maintaining American technological leadership. We need to eliminate unnecessary bureaucratic inefficiencies that compromise both security and America’s ability to attract promising scientists and engineers.

Congressman Nick Smith, a Republican, represents Michigan's 7th Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives. He serves as Chairman of the House Subcommittee on Research.