WASHINGTON, D.C.—OCTOBER 5, 2011—The Semiconductor Industry Association (SIA), representing U.S. leadership in semiconductor manufacturing and design, advocated for U.S. immigration policy changes on Capitol Hill today before the House of Representatives Committee on the Judiciary, Subcommittee on Immigration.

Texas Instruments Senior Vice President for Worldwide Human Resources Darla Whitaker testified on behalf of the SIA at a hearing on how to best retain U.S. university graduates holding advanced degrees in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM).

“Recent data shows that, 55 percent of Master’s and 63 percent of PhDs graduating from U.S. universities with advanced degrees in electrical engineering (EE) are foreign nationals,” said Whitaker. “Texas Instruments does not choose the pool of graduates, we recruit from it. We choose the best, the brightest and the most creative engineering graduates in order to be successful and to compete in the global market. It’s the foundation of our success and the success of the entire semiconductor industry.”

Talented researchers, scientists and engineers come to America’s world-class universities, but once they have their degrees U.S. immigration policy makes it difficult for these highly-educated professionals to work, live and be productive in America.

“The high-skilled immigration debate strikes at the very core of our country’s global competitiveness.  If we want to maintain the rapid pace of innovation we must recognize that one of our biggest competitive advantages is our university system and its graduates, particularly those with a talent in the STEM fields,” said Colleen McKeown, SVP Human Resources and Communications, ON Semiconductor and Chair of SIA’s Workforce Committee.  “We cannot allow these American-educated foreign nationals with STEM degrees to slip through our fingers.”

While reforms to the U.S. immigration system are crucial, investing heavily in building and strengthening the pipeline of American-born students pursuing STEM degrees is a top priority for the semiconductor industry.  SIA member companies have invested hundreds of millions in schools, programs and internships to promote K-12 education and will continue to do so.

“Keeping America competitive will take efforts both in promoting STEM education and in reforming our current immigration system to allow U.S. companies to hire more Master’s and PhD graduates in STEM fields,” Whitaker continued.  “Both goals are imperative to our nation’s economic future and we urge reform of the U.S. immigration system to reflect this.”

To read the full testimony or to watch a playback of the hearing visit; http://judiciary.house.gov/hearings/hear_10052011_2.html