28 Sep 2020 BPC Action Supports the Improving Opportunities for New Americans Act of 2020 in Immigration

The Improving Opportunities for New Americans Act of 2020 seeks to fully utilize the skills and experience that immigrants bring to the table in order to strengthen the U.S. workforce and help American businesses.

A significant number of immigrants in the U.S. with college degrees or professional credentials are unable to find work or are underemployed, due to difficulties in having their foreign education or skills recognized here, a phenomenon referred to as “brain waste”. Brain waste has a significant negative impact on the U.S. economy as well as a negative impact on immigrants and their families.

The Improving Opportunities for New Americans Act of 2020 aims to explore the factors that contribute to brain waste by directing the Department of Labor to conduct an interagency study on factors that impact employment opportunities for immigrants and refugees with professional credentials from other countries. BPC Action applauds the effort of Reps. John Katko (R-NY) and Ben McAdams (D-UT) to address this issue and looks forward to the swift consideration of this legislation.