House to Vote on STEM Bill Next Week

From the National Journal:

House Majority Leader Eric Cantor and Majority Whip Kevin McCarthy gathered some of Washington's biggest tech players in McCarthy's conference room this morning to ask them to back an immigration bill they plan to bring to the floor next week, according to attendees in the room.

The legislation, sponsored by House Judiciary Chairman Lamar Smith, would create a new green card category for foreigners who have received doctorate degrees from U.S. universities in science, technology, engineering and math (the so-called STEM disciplines). Green cards not used by PhDs would be available to those with STEM master's degrees.

The idea that the government should "staple a green card to the diplomas" of foreign students who have earned an advanced degree at a U.S. university has been a favorite talking point of both Democrats and Republicans for years.

This sounds like good news, but we need to see the details. Stay tuned.