Visas for Foreign Scholars and Students

Opening Statement By Chairman Brian Baird

Good afternoon.  Welcome to this Research and Science Education Subcommittee hearing on the Status of Visas and Other Policies for Foreign Students and Scholars.

This year, the Subcommittee is going to focus on the role that the federal government can play in fostering international scientific cooperation and science diplomacy.  I have spent a great deal of time traveling around the world and have come to learn the potential that science holds for building and strengthening our relationship with other countries.  I have come to believe very strongly that, although the United States is not looked upon as highly as it once was in many respects, countries throughout the world still respect and admire us for science and technology.  We should build on this; we should use our standing in this area to develop relationships and build bridges with other countries.

Much of this can be done by fostering collaborative research between our scientists and foreign scientists.  However, it can also be done by bringing foreign scientists to our country to study.  Many scientists and engineers entering the U.S. on student and scholar visas return home and rise to prominent positions in their own countries and can serve as important advocates for the United States.

In addition to improving our standing and reputation in the world, foreign students and scholars play an important role in our universities’ science and engineering departments.  They help fill the talent pools that fuel innovation and keep the U.S. competitive.  While all of us on this Committee, particularly Chairman Gordon and Dr. Ehlers, are committed to increasing the pipeline of U.S. students in science and engineering fields, we also recognize that this does not necessarily mean that we should turn away the best and brightest from other countries.

Foreign students also help broaden and enrich the educational experience of their peers.  Foreign scholars bring different perspectives to their disciplines and to their American colleagues, often initiating new research directions that may lead to scientific or technological breakthroughs.

So, today, we are going to look at the federal government’s policies relating to foreign students and scholars at our educational and research institutions.  It’s been nearly four years since this Committee last examined the federal government’s policies in this area.

All of us on this Committee recognize that the federal government must protect the American people from those who seek to do us harm.  However, it is important that we review how the barriers we have created since 9/11 are impacting legitimate students and scholars who want to come to this country to study and scholars who want to come here for research collaborations or conferences.  We must also examine what we are doing, or should be doing, to reduce those barriers.  I am particularly concerned about the lasting perception that the U.S. is not welcoming to foreign visitors and welcome your input as to how we might also address that.

This hearing will serve as the first in a series of hearings on science diplomacy.  We are currently working to bring in such distinguished experts as Thomas Pickering and Norm Neureiter for an informal discussion on international scientific collaboration with Committee Members.  We will follow that with hearings with senior government officials, scientific organizations and private foundations involved in these efforts.  Our universities and high-tech industries, as well as some of our prominent foreign policy leaders, have long recognized the value of scientific exchange.  But it will take a sustained effort by all stakeholders to make science diplomacy a cornerstone of our foreign policy.  I very much look forward to our subcommittee being a part of that effort.

I want to thank all of the witnesses for taking the time to appear before the Committee this afternoon and I look forward to your testimony.

Witnesses

Panel

1 - Mr. Tony Edson
Deputy Assistant Secretary Visa Services, Bureau of Consular Affairs Department of State Visa Services, Bureau of Consular Affairs Department of State
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4 - Ms. Catheryn Cotten
Director, International Office Duke University Duke University
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2 - Dr. Harvey Fineberg
President, Institute of Medicine National Academies National Academies
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3 - Dr. Allan E. Goodman
President and Chief Executive Officer Institute of International Education Institute of International Education
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