Education and Immigration: The Building Blocks of Innovation
September 10, 2009
Rayburn House Office Building Room 2168
On September 10, 2009, the Council for American Medical Innovation held the first in a series of breakfast briefings on Capitol Hill. The briefing, entitled “Education and Immigration: The Building Blocks of Innovation,” was a great success.
The event was opened by Council President Debra Lappin, who moderated a panel discussion with Stuart Anderson, Executive Director of the National Foundation for American Policy and David Heil, President of David Heil & Associates, Inc., and former host of the Emmy Award Winning PBS series “Newton's Apple.”
Highlights from the Discussion:
David Heil addressed American students’ performance in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) education, including how they compare to other countries. While the United States continues to invest more in education than most other nations, its test scores continue to be lower. The United States does not invest substantially in early STEM education, which Heil said damages the pipeline of innovators in America. If students are not inspired to pursue science and math by middle school, the chances of this interest developing later on is slim. Basic skills associated with early science education can be used well into the future.
The challenges that the United States faces in K-12 classrooms are both cultural and structural. America has become complacent in the field of science, and Americans do not value the field as highly as they once did. Structurally, schools, science museums and nature centers are underfunded, creating obstacles to children’s ability to learn and contribute to scientific development.
Stuart Anderson addressed the critical contributions foreign nationals make to U.S. society. Prior to 1965, legislation made it nearly, if not entirely, impossible for foreign nationals to become permanent U.S. residents. While these restrictions have been eased dramatically, there are still obstacles that make it difficult for immigrants to come to America. H1-b visas are only temporary, and their “max number” is extremely limiting. For those immigrants looking to secure green cards, the wait can range from six to ten years, creating tremendous uncertainty for immigrants trying to settle into a life in the U.S.
America can improve its immigration policy by taking a cue from other countries that are investing in infrastructure that will entice students to not only come to America to study, but stay here to work and contribute to the local and national economy. Immigration legislation is relatively simple and is primarily a “numbers game.” Legislation that raises the maximum number of H1-b visas available to foreign nationals, eliminates quotas for individuals who meet certain educational/skills standards, and removes burdens on employers looking to hire foreign immigrants would all benefit the future of medical innovation in America.
During the question and answer session, Brad Perkins, Senior Vice President at Vanguard Health Systems, commented on the need to address both “structural” and “cultural” problems related to education and immigration as a means of attracting and retaining talent in the United States – and inspiring young people to become involved in the sciences.
Also in the “Recovery Through Discovery” Briefing Series:
Translational Research - From Bench to Bedside
September 17, 2009, 8:30-10:00 a.m., Rayburn House Office Building, Room B338
Incentives for American Medical Innovation - Protecting America's Greatest Innovators
October 5, 2009, 8:30-9:30 a.m., Rayburn House Office Building, Room B338