International student entrepreneurs and innovators have been a frequent topic of conversation on Capitol Hill lately in connection with two recent pieces of jobs-creation legislation. The newest, proposed on December 18, 2011, by Senator Michael Bennet (D-Colorado), would create a new long-term work visa category open to all international Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) graduates with employment offers following graduation.

The second, proposed by Senators Jerry Moran (R-Kansas) and Mark Warner (D-Virginia), would create a new “immigrant entrepreneur” visa for up to 75,000 aspiring immigrants who earned technical degrees in the United States and who create businesses that employ Americans, the Richmond Times-Dispatch reports. It would also permit green cards to all foreign-born students earning U.S. advanced degrees in STEM fields. These measures are contained within a larger package of reforms geared at encouraging entrepreneurship and small business ownership.

Though the fates of these pieces of legislation are still unknown, they can be seen as part of a recent surge of interest among U.S. politicians in the potential economic benefits associated with encouraging highly-skilled international students to pursue post-graduate opportunities in the country. STEM graduates have been a particular topic of focus, with many U.S. politicians putting forward proposals to allow more highly-skilled scientists, engineers, and mathematicians to stay.

Sources:

• Bennet Bill Seeks Visas for Illegal Immigrants Studying Math, Science, The Denver Post
• Bill Aimed at Encouraging New Businesses, The Spokesman-Review
• Warner Introduces Bill to Aid Start-Ups, The Richmond Times-Dispatch
• America’s Foreign-Born Scientists and Engineers, CNN