Arizona senator introduces immigration bill

U.S. Sen. Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.) introduced the Willing Workers and Willing Employers Act, a pilot guest worker program designed to address the gap that currently exists between temporary visa programs for seasonal workers and the H-1B visa program for highly-skilled immigrants.
The 10-year-long pilot program established by the bill would:
* Admit workers to the United States that have less than a bachelor’s degree to do year-round, non-farm work
* Create a flexible cap for registered positions ranging from 65,000 to 85,000 a year to match economic demand
* Provide strict requirements that employers must seek an available U.S. worker before utilizing a guest worker under this program
* Allow employers and employees greater portability by enabling workers to change jobs and work for any employer who has tested the labor market and proved that they are unable to hire an American worker for the position
During the pilot program, the bill would require a study to determine the effects of the program on wages, employment, economic growth, welfare use, and government services to determine if the program should be continued.
To ensure security and compliance, E-Verify will be mandatory for all employers participating in the program and other requirements.
“This kind of flexible, market-based visa program designed to better meet economic demand is exactly the approach we need to bring U.S.-immigration policy into the 21st century,” said Flake.