National Volcano Early Warning and Monitoring Program Act

Mr. President, I rise today to reintroduce a bill and talk about an issue that has, unfortunately, become a regular occurrence in Alaska and holds great interest to the Nation and the world. I am talking about volcano monitoring. While erupting volcanoes are a early constant part of our lives in Alaska, it usually takes a worldwide event such the eruption last year of a volcano in Iceland, which disrupted air traffic in Europe and around the world, to capture the public's attention.

Two years ago it was the eruption of Mount Redoubt, which cancelled hundreds of flights in Alaska that motivated me to introduce the National Volcano Early Warning and Monitoring System Act. I reintroduce the bill now because it is still vitally important to the United States.

The volcanoes in Alaska make up well over three-quarters of U.S. volcanoes that have erupted in the last two hundred years. About 50 volcanic eruptions occur around the world every year, according to the United States Geological Survey, USGS. The United States ranks third, behind Indonesia and Japan, in its number of historically active volcanoes.

That is why it is so important to fund volcano monitoring, which in Alaska is through the Alaska Volcano Observatory. The Alaska Volcano Observatory, AVO, is one of five Volcano observatories in the United States. It is a joint program of the United States Geological Survey, the Geophysical Institute of the University of Alaska Fairbanks, and the State of Alaska Division of Geological and Geophysical Surveys. AVO is unique in the United States and probably the world, in that it is a thoroughly collaborative undertaking of federal scientists, state scientists, and university faculty and students.

AVO was formed in 1988, after an eruption of Mount Augustine, and uses federal, state, and university resources to monitor and study Alaska's hazardous volcanoes, to predict and record

eruptive activity, and to mitigate volcanic hazards to life and property. Alaska has over 30 active volcanoes currently being monitored by the Alaska Volcano Observatory. No other observatory in the world comes even close to that number. AVO also analyzes available satellite data twice daily for thermal anomalies and ash plumes at about 80 volcanoes in the north Pacific. Russian volcanoes frequently put ash into areas where the U.S. has aviation safety responsibilities. Alaska's active volcanoes also offer superb opportunities for basic scientific investigations of volcanic processes. An important component of AVO's program is to conduct research at selected volcanic centers.

Alaska's volcanoes are potentially hazardous to passenger and freight aircraft as jet engines sometimes fail after ingesting volcanic ash. On December 15, 1989, a Boeing 747 flying 240 kilometers, 150 miles, northeast of Anchorage encountered an ash cloud erupted from Redoubt Volcano and lost power in all four jet engines. The plane, with 231 passengers aboard, lost more than 10,000 feet of elevation before the flight crew was able to restart the engines. After landing, it was determined the airplane had suffered about $80 million in damage. The U.S. Geological Survey said about 100 encounters of aircraft with volcanic ash were documented from 1983 to 2000. In some cases engines shut down briefly after sucking in volcanic debris, but there have been no fatal incidents.

The FAA estimates, based on information provided by the Federal Aviation Administration, that more than 80,000 large aircraft per year, and 30,000 people per day, are in the skies over and potentially downwind of many of Alaska's volcanoes, mostly on the heavily traveled great-circle routes between Europe, North America, and Asia. Along this route, which coincidently follows the northern portion of the Pacific ``ring of fire'', are over 100 volcanoes capable of depositing ash into the flight path. Some are in Japan, many are in Russia, but about half are in Alaska. By analyzing satellite imagery and working with the National Weather Service to predict where winds will carry the ash, AVO assists the Federal Aviation Administration in warning aircraft of areas to avoid.

Volcanic eruptions from Cook Inlet volcanoes, Spurr, Redoubt, Iliamna, and Augustine, can have severe impacts, as these volcanoes are nearest to Anchorage, Alaska's largest population center. The last major series of eruptions of Mt. Redoubt occurred in the spring of 2009. The Alaska Volcano Observatory had recorded 26 volcanic eruptions and/or explosions at Redoubt volcano.

There were several impacts from this series of eruptions from Mount Redoubt. Two major lahars, mudflows, moved down the Drift River and partially inundated an oil terminal. Airborne ash clouds posed a hazard to aviation and caused multiple flight cancellations and reroutes. Alaska Airlines cancelled approximately 200 flights. FedEx, United Parcel Service and several other cargo airlines rerouted aircraft to Seattle. Ash fall forced Ted Stevens International Airport, the third busiest cargo airport in the world, to close for 20 consecutive hours. Disruption to the aviation industry was significant for passenger travel and cargo transportation between Asia and North America. Minor ash fall impacted several communities as far downwind as Delta Junction, Alaska, 400 miles northeast of Anchorage. Elmendorf Air Force Base assets were temporarily relocated. There were also impacts to oil field operations due to the cessation of oil storage at Chevron's Drift River Oil Terminal. The economic impact is estimated to be less than or equal to the Redoubt eruptions also disrupted air traffic in the region. Hundreds of commercial flights were cancelled and cargo companies were significantly impacted. This resulted in employees being placed on unpaid leave during periods when airport operations were shut down.

International volcano monitoring is also a role of the Federal Government. It likely saved many lives--and significant money--in the case of the 1991 eruption of Mount Pinatubo in the Philippines, where the United States had military bases at the time. The cataclysmic eruption lasted more than 10 hours and sent a cloud of ash as high as 22 miles into the air that grew to more than 300 miles across. The United States Geological Survey spent less than $1.5 million monitoring the volcano and was able to warn of the impending eruption, which allowed authorities to evacuate residents, as well as aircraft and other equipment from U.S. bases there. The USGS estimates that the efforts saved thousands of lives and prevented property losses of at least $250 million.

It is not enough to justify a program by just identifying a danger. The more important question is whether something can be done to reduce the impact of a volcanic eruption in terms of property damage and loss of life. That means getting people out of harm's way by providing advance warning. And this is exactly what the USGS Volcano Hazards Program seeks to do through the existing volcano observatories in the United States.

The advances made in monitoring can now provide much more accurate and timely predictions of eruptions. As an example, in 1989, AVO was only able to provide a few days warning before Mount Redoubt erupted. This year, they began to detect activity and notified the public two months before it eventually erupted.

The biggest challenge remains finding an adequate and stable source of funding. The USGS Volcano Hazards Program has been constantly underfunded. Both USGS and the FAA provide funding, but it is not enough to manage all the observatories or provide for an expansion of the system to cover increased monitoring and volcano research.

It is because of the inadequate funding, and critical importance of this program, that I intend to introduce a bill that will provide the funding stability that volcano monitoring needs. This program shows that with a modest investment, a very large benefit can be produced in reducing the impacts of catastrophic events.

My legislation will establish a National Volcano Early Warning and Monitoring System within the United States Geological Survey to monitor warn and protect citizens from undue and avoidable harm from volcanic activity. The USGS will coordinate a management plan with the other relevant federal departments, including the Department of Transportation, Federal Aviation Administration; the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the Department of Homeland Security and the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

The legislation authorizes appropriations of $15 million annually to the Department of Interior to carry out the Act.

Mr. President, I rise today to reintroduce a bill and talk about an issue that has, unfortunately, become a regular occurrence in Alaska and holds great interest to the Nation and the world. I am talking about volcano monitoring. While erupting volcanoes are a early constant part of our lives in Alaska, it usually takes a worldwide event such the eruption last year of a volcano in Iceland, which disrupted air traffic in Europe and around the world, to capture the public's attention.

Two years ago it was the eruption of Mount Redoubt, which cancelled hundreds of flights in Alaska that motivated me to introduce the National Volcano Early Warning and Monitoring System Act. I reintroduce the bill now because it is still vitally important to the United States.

The volcanoes in Alaska make up well over three-quarters of U.S. volcanoes that have erupted in the last two hundred years. About 50 volcanic eruptions occur around the world every year, according to the United States Geological Survey, USGS. The United States ranks third, behind Indonesia and Japan, in its number of historically active volcanoes.

That is why it is so important to fund volcano monitoring, which in Alaska is through the Alaska Volcano Observatory. The Alaska Volcano Observatory, AVO, is one of five Volcano observatories in the United States. It is a joint program of the United States Geological Survey, the Geophysical Institute of the University of Alaska Fairbanks, and the State of Alaska Division of Geological and Geophysical Surveys. AVO is unique in the United States and probably the world, in that it is a thoroughly collaborative undertaking of federal scientists, state scientists, and university faculty and students.

AVO was formed in 1988, after an eruption of Mount Augustine, and uses federal, state, and university resources to monitor and study Alaska's hazardous volcanoes, to predict and record

eruptive activity, and to mitigate volcanic hazards to life and property. Alaska has over 30 active volcanoes currently being monitored by the Alaska Volcano Observatory. No other observatory in the world comes even close to that number. AVO also analyzes available satellite data twice daily for thermal anomalies and ash plumes at about 80 volcanoes in the north Pacific. Russian volcanoes frequently put ash into areas where the U.S. has aviation safety responsibilities. Alaska's active volcanoes also offer superb opportunities for basic scientific investigations of volcanic processes. An important component of AVO's program is to conduct research at selected volcanic centers.

Alaska's volcanoes are potentially hazardous to passenger and freight aircraft as jet engines sometimes fail after ingesting volcanic ash. On December 15, 1989, a Boeing 747 flying 240 kilometers, 150 miles, northeast of Anchorage encountered an ash cloud erupted from Redoubt Volcano and lost power in all four jet engines. The plane, with 231 passengers aboard, lost more than 10,000 feet of elevation before the flight crew was able to restart the engines. After landing, it was determined the airplane had suffered about $80 million in damage. The U.S. Geological Survey said about 100 encounters of aircraft with volcanic ash were documented from 1983 to 2000. In some cases engines shut down briefly after sucking in volcanic debris, but there have been no fatal incidents.

The FAA estimates, based on information provided by the Federal Aviation Administration, that more than 80,000 large aircraft per year, and 30,000 people per day, are in the skies over and potentially downwind of many of Alaska's volcanoes, mostly on the heavily traveled great-circle routes between Europe, North America, and Asia. Along this route, which coincidently follows the northern portion of the Pacific ``ring of fire'', are over 100 volcanoes capable of depositing ash into the flight path. Some are in Japan, many are in Russia, but about half are in Alaska. By analyzing satellite imagery and working with the National Weather Service to predict where winds will carry the ash, AVO assists the Federal Aviation Administration in warning aircraft of areas to avoid.

Volcanic eruptions from Cook Inlet volcanoes, Spurr, Redoubt, Iliamna, and Augustine, can have severe impacts, as these volcanoes are nearest to Anchorage, Alaska's largest population center. The last major series of eruptions of Mt. Redoubt occurred in the spring of 2009. The Alaska Volcano Observatory had recorded 26 volcanic eruptions and/or explosions at Redoubt volcano.

There were several impacts from this series of eruptions from Mount Redoubt. Two major lahars, mudflows, moved down the Drift River and partially inundated an oil terminal. Airborne ash clouds posed a hazard to aviation and caused multiple flight cancellations and reroutes. Alaska Airlines cancelled approximately 200 flights. FedEx, United Parcel Service and several other cargo airlines rerouted aircraft to Seattle. Ash fall forced Ted Stevens International Airport, the third busiest cargo airport in the world, to close for 20 consecutive hours. Disruption to the aviation industry was significant for passenger travel and cargo transportation between Asia and North America. Minor ash fall impacted several communities as far downwind as Delta Junction, Alaska, 400 miles northeast of Anchorage. Elmendorf Air Force Base assets were temporarily relocated. There were also impacts to oil field operations due to the cessation of oil storage at Chevron's Drift River Oil Terminal. The economic impact is estimated to be less than or equal to the Redoubt eruptions also disrupted air traffic in the region. Hundreds of commercial flights were cancelled and cargo companies were significantly impacted. This resulted in employees being placed on unpaid leave during periods when airport operations were shut down.

International volcano monitoring is also a role of the Federal Government. It likely saved many lives--and significant money--in the case of the 1991 eruption of Mount Pinatubo in the Philippines, where the United States had military bases at the time. The cataclysmic eruption lasted more than 10 hours and sent a cloud of ash as high as 22 miles into the air that grew to more than 300 miles across. The United States Geological Survey spent less than $1.5 million monitoring the volcano and was able to warn of the impending eruption, which allowed authorities to evacuate residents, as well as aircraft and other equipment from U.S. bases there. The USGS estimates that the efforts saved thousands of lives and prevented property losses of at least $250 million.

It is not enough to justify a program by just identifying a danger. The more important question is whether something can be done to reduce the impact of a volcanic eruption in terms of property damage and loss of life. That means getting people out of harm's way by providing advance warning. And this is exactly what the USGS Volcano Hazards Program seeks to do through the existing volcano observatories in the United States.

The advances made in monitoring can now provide much more accurate and timely predictions of eruptions. As an example, in 1989, AVO was only able to provide a few days warning before Mount Redoubt erupted. This year, they began to detect activity and notified the public two months before it eventually erupted.

The biggest challenge remains finding an adequate and stable source of funding. The USGS Volcano Hazards Program has been constantly underfunded. Both USGS and the FAA provide funding, but it is not enough to manage all the observatories or provide for an expansion of the system to cover increased monitoring and volcano research.

It is because of the inadequate funding, and critical importance of this program, that I intend to introduce a bill that will provide the funding stability that volcano monitoring needs. This program shows that with a modest investment, a very large benefit can be produced in reducing the impacts of catastrophic events.

My legislation will establish a National Volcano Early Warning and Monitoring System within the United States Geological Survey to monitor warn and protect citizens from undue and avoidable harm from volcanic activity. The USGS will coordinate a management plan with the other relevant federal departments, including the Department of Transportation, Federal Aviation Administration; the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the Department of Homeland Security and the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

The legislation authorizes appropriations of $15 million annually to the Department of Interior to carry out the Act.

Mr. President, I rise to talk about legislation that I have introduced that is essential to the academic success of millions of vulnerable children and youth.

The Educational Success for Children and Youth Without Homes Act responds to the growing crisis of homelessness in our nation. The legislation will help homeless children and youth thrive in school, despite the constant moves, trauma, and loss associated with homelessness.

The recession has contributed to homelessness among two groups of students: children who are homeless with their families, and youth who are homeless on their own. This reality was brought starkly to light in a recent CBS 60 Minutes special about homeless children. The series documented several Florida families that have fallen on hard times, yet are doing their best to make ends meet and keep their children in school. It was heartbreaking to see these families who are struggling. However, it increased my resolve and determination to introduce this legislation, which will provide much-needed support for kids across the country.

The numbers of homeless children are shocking. During the 2008-2009 academic year, there were almost 1 million homeless children enrolled in public schools across the nation. That was a 41 percent increase over the previous two years. Unfortunately, this alarming trend shows no sign of abating. Many states are reporting increases between 5 and 35 percent for the 2009-2010 school year. We owe it to these children to provide them with a safe place where they can learn and become successful adults.

We know that school offers homeless children and youth structure, normalcy, support, and hope--it is a place where they can obtain the skills that they will need to avoid poverty and homelessness as adults. Yet these students face great educational challenges. High mobility, precarious living conditions, and severe poverty combine to create major barriers to school enrollment and regular attendance. Many homeless children and youth lack basic supplies and a reasonable environment where they can do homework. As a result of their circumstances, homeless students often perform below their peers in math and reading and are more likely to be held back.

We must do more to assist these students so they do not continue to be left behind. The Educational Success for Children and Youth Without Homes Act of 2011 would do just that. The bill amends the McKinney- Vento Act's Education for Homeless Children and Youth program. It makes a strong law even stronger by reinforcing and expanding the law's key provisions: school stability, enrollment, and support for academic achievement.

My legislation will enhance the right of homeless children to stay in the same school, so that children who have lost their homes do not also lose their schools. It will assist schools in meeting the challenges of transporting homeless students by increasing the authorized funding level and allowing other federal funds for educating low-income students to be used for homeless transportation. When staying in the same school is not possible, or not in a child's best interest, the legislation will help the student make a seamless transition to a new school.

One of the most successful features of the McKinney-Vento program is the requirement for every school district to designate a liaison for homeless children and youth. Liaisons identify homeless students, ensure their enrollment and attendance, and connect them to community resources. Liaisons are the backbone of this program, the unsung heroes who have become a lifeline for children and youth in crisis. Yet most liaisons do not have the capacity to carry out their required duties; they wear many hats and struggle to meet the growing demands of this population. As a result, too many homeless children and youth are falling through the cracks and missing out on school. The Educational Success for Children and Youth Without Homes Act will strengthen the critical position of homeless liaison by ensuring that liaisons have the time, resources, and training to fulfill their mandated duties.

The Educational Success for Children and Youth Without Homes Act also recognizes the unique needs of certain groups of homeless children: preschool-aged homeless children, and unaccompanied homeless youth.

Young children who are homeless have higher rates of developmental

delays and other problems that set them back as they start out life, yet they face numerous barriers to participating in early childhood programs. They miss out on services that can mitigate the harmful effect of homelessness on their development. This legislation will increase homeless children's participation in preschool programs by requiring public preschool programs to identify and prioritize homeless children for enrollment, and to develop the capacity to serve all identified homeless children.

Unaccompanied homeless youth struggle to go to school without the basic necessities of life or a parent to guide them. We must assist unaccompanied homeless youth to overcome the unique educational challenges related to being without a home and without a parent or guardian. This legislation will help ensure that unaccompanied homeless youth have the supports necessary to stay in school, graduate with their peers, and move on to a brighter future.

The history of litigation under the McKinney-Vento Act makes clear that we must do a better job helping educators learn about homelessness and support them in implementing the law. To this end, the legislation provides funding for technical assistance and training, and requires participation in professional development activities.

As we work on the reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, we must recognize that children who do not know where they will sleep at night, or where their next meal will come from, face far greater challenges than simply remembering to do their homework. We must acknowledge that children who bounce between schools with each change of residence have little hope of taking advantage of even the best school programs. The most qualified teacher, or the most exceptional math or reading program, will not benefit children who are not enrolled in school, not attending regularly, and not assisted to overcome the barriers caused by homelessness. The Educational Success for Children and Youth Without Homes Act builds upon the proven successes of the McKinney-Vento Act's Education of Homeless Children and Youth program, while addressing remaining challenges. It is critical legislation that will help ensure that the homeless children of today do not become the homeless adults of tomorrow.

Mr. President, I would like to announce for the information of the Senate and the public that a hearing has been scheduled before the Subcommittee on Public Lands and Forests. The hearing will be held on Wednesday, May 18, 2011, at 2:30 p.m., in room SD-366 of the Dirksen Senate Office Building.

The purpose of the hearing is to receive testimony on the following bills:

S. 220, to provide for the restoration of forest landscapes, protection of old growth forests, and management of national forests in the eastside forests of the State of Oregon;

S. 270, to direct the Secretary of the Interior to convey certain Federal land to Deschutes County, Oregon;

S. 271, to require the Secretary of Agriculture to enter into a property conveyance with the city of Wallowa, Oregon, and for other purposes;

S. 278, to provide for the exchange of certain land located in the Arapaho-Roosevelt National Forests in the State of Colorado, and for other purposes;

S. 292, to resolve the claims of the Bering Straits Native Corporation and the State of Alaska to land adjacent to Salmon Lake in the State of Alaska and to provide for the conveyance to the Bering Straits Native Corporation of certain other public land in partial satisfaction of the land entitlement of the Corporation under the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act;

S. 322, to expand the Alpine Lakes Wilderness in the State of Washington, to designate the Middle Fork Snoqualmie River and Pratt River as wild and scenic rivers, and for other purposes;

S. 382, to amend the National Forest Ski Area Permit Act of 1986 to clarify the authority of the Secretary of Agriculture regarding additional recreational uses of National Forest System land that is subject to ski area permits, and for other purposes;

S. 427, to withdraw certain land located in Clark County, Nevada, from location, entry, and patent under the mining laws and disposition under all laws pertaining to mineral and geothermal leasing or mineral materials, and for other purposes;

S. 526, to provide for the conveyance of certain Bureau of Land Management land in Mohave County, Arizona, to the Arizona Game and Fish Commission, for use as a public shooting range;

S. 566, to provide for the establishment of the National Volcano Early Warning and Monitoring System;

S. 590, to convey certain submerged lands to the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands in order to give that territory the same benefits in its submerged lands as Guam, the Virgin Islands, and American Samoa have in their submerged lands;

S. 607, to designate certain land in the State of Oregon as wilderness, to provide for the exchange of certain Federal land and non-Federal land, and for other purposes;

S. 617, to require the Secretary of the Interior to convey certain Federal land to Elko County, Nevada, and to take land into trust for the Te-moak Tribe of Western Shoshone Indians of Nevada, and for other purposes;

S. 683, to provide for the conveyance of certain parcels of land to the town of Mantua, Utah;

S. 684, to provide for the conveyance of certain parcels of land to the town of Alta, Utah;

S. 667, to establish the Rio Grande del Norte National Conservation Area in the State of New Mexico, and for other purposes;

S. 729, to validate final patent number 27-2005-0081, and for other purposes;

S. 766, to provide for the designation of the Devil's Staircase Wilderness Area in the State of Oregon, to designate segments of Wasson and Franklin Creeks in the State of Oregon as wild rivers, and for other purposes;

S. 896, to amend the Public Lands Corps Act of 1993 to expand the authorization of the Secretaries of Agriculture, Commerce, and the Interior to provide service opportunities for young Americans; help restore the nation's natural, cultural, historic, archaeological, recreational and scenic resources; train a new generation of public land managers and enthusiasts; and promote the value of public service; and

S. 897, to amend the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 to clarify that uncertified States and Indian tribes have the authority to use certain payments for certain noncoal reclamation projects.

Because of the limited time available for the hearing, witnesses may testify by invitation only. However, those wishing to submit written testimony for the hearing record should send it to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, United States Senate, Washington, DC 20510-6150, or by email to [email protected].

For further information, please contact Scott Miller or Allison Seyferth.

Committee on Energy and Natural Resources

Mr. President, I would like to announce for the information of the Senate and the public that a hearing has been scheduled before the Subcommittee on Public Lands and Forests. The hearing will be held on Wednesday, May 25, 2011, at 2:30 p.m., in room SD-366 of the Dirksen Senate Office Building.

The purpose of the hearing is to receive testimony on the following bills:

S. 233, to withdraw certain Federal land and interests in that land from location, entry, and patent under the mining laws and disposition under the mineral and geothermal leasing laws;

S. 375, to authorize the Secretary of Agriculture and the Secretary of the Interior to enter into cooperative agreements with State foresters authorizing State foresters to provide certain forest, rangeland, and watershed restoration and protection services;

S. 714, to reauthorize the Federal Land Transaction Facilitation Act, and for other purposes; and

S. 730, to provide for the settlement of certain claims under the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act, and for other purposes.

Because of the limited time available for the hearing, witnesses may testify by invitation only. However, those wishing to submit written testimony for the hearing record should send it to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, United States Senate, Washington, DC 20510-6150, or by email to [email protected].

For further information, please contact Scott Miller or Allison Seyferth.

Mr. President, I rise to support the StartUp Visa Act of 2011, as the leading Republican cosponsor, because I believe this legislation will increase the possibility that companies such as Google, Intel, Yahoo and Proctor & Gamble--which were all started completely or in part by immigrant entrepreneurs--will continue to be founded in America. This legislation will help immigrant entrepreneurs like Paroon Chadha, Purdue University alumnus and cofounder of a company that currently employs more than two dozen American-born Hoosiers and continues to grow--as demonstrated by plans to hire four additional staff members in April 2011. Paroon and I believe America remains the best country in the world to do business and that we should continue attracting immigrant entrepreneurs to help drive innovation and job creation here at home.

At a time when our country struggles to achieve full economic recovery, foreign-born entrepreneurs who wish to establish companies and create jobs in the United States, often with the financial backing of American investors, are instead operating from other countries because they find the process of immigrating to the U.S. too difficult. The logic of our current approach places America at a competitive disadvantage in the global race to attract the very best talent and is counterproductive to our national interest.

According to a 2009 survey of American entrepreneurs conducted by the Kauffman Foundation, an overwhelming majority of the participants felt that ``the United States cannot have a sustained economic recovery without another burst of entrepreneurial activity.'' Over the past 15 years, immigrant entrepreneurs have started 25 percent of venture- backed public companies and 40 percent of companies in the high technology sector. A 2007 report commissioned by the National Venture Capital Association noted that the market capitalization of publically traded venture-backed companies founded by immigrant entrepreneurs exceeded $500 billion.

The StartUp visa represents a commonsense solution to this problem and does not require the creation of new visas. The bill proposes to draw from existing visas under the EB-5 category, which is a set-aside of visas for immigrants who invest at least $1 million in the U.S., and thereby create 10 jobs, to obtain a green card. In areas where unemployment is high, foreign nationals need only invest $500,000 to obtain residency. Many more visas are annually allocated for the EB-5 category than are used, so the addition of immigrant entrepreneurs will not require additional visas.

Better utilizing existing visas, immigrant entrepreneurs living outside the United States would be eligible to apply for a StartUp visa if a qualified American investor agrees to financially sponsor their entrepreneurial venture with a minimum investment of $100,000. After 2 years, their business must have created five new jobs and raised not less than $500,000 in additional capital investment or generate not less than $500,000 in revenue.

Additionally, immigrant entrepreneurs currently residing in the United States on an unexpired H-1B visa or immigrant entrepreneurs currently in the country who have completed a graduate level degree in science, technology, engineering, math, computer science, or other relevant academic discipline from an accredited United States institution of higher education would be eligible for a StartUp visa. Eligibility in each of these cases is contingent upon the immigrant entrepreneur demonstrating that they will be self-sufficient and that a qualified U.S. investor will financially back their entrepreneurial venture with a minimum investment of $20,000. After 2 years, their business must have created three new jobs and raised not less than $100,000 in additional capital investment or generate not less than $100,000 in revenue.

Finally, immigrant entrepreneurs living outside the U.S. who have controlling interest of a company based in a foreign country that has generated, during the most recent 12-month period, not less than $100,000 in revenue from sales in the U.S. would be eligible to apply for a StartUp visa. At the conclusion of 2 years, this immigrant entrepreneur must have created three new jobs in the U.S. and raised not less than $100,000 in additional capital investment or generate not less than $100,000 in revenue.

Immigrant entrepreneurs want to come to America, hire Americans, and create jobs right here for Americans--and we should be helping them come. Senator Kerry and I believe that it is in our national interest to encourage those who can help drive the next generation of innovation to do it here, not someplace else. This plan has the support of investors, immigrants, technology organizations, and taxpayers. I ask for your support on passage of this bill.