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Article: Silicon Valley wins as Congress expands visa program.(Knight Ridder Newspapers)
- Article from:
- Knight Ridder/Tribune News Service
- Article date:
- October 3, 2000
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2000 Knight-Ridder/Tribune News Service. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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WASHINGTON _ Silicon Valley won its top legislative priority after Congress voted overwhelmingly Tuesday to nearly double the number of visas for highly skilled foreign workers in a surprising bipartisan show of support for the high-tech industry.
The Senate voted 96-1 Tuesday morning, and the momentum of that near-unanimous vote led the House of Representatives to quickly take up the bill and pass it on an unusual voice vote Tuesday night. President Clinton is expected to sign the bill.
"It's done," rejoiced Rep. Zoe Lofgren, D-Calif., one of the major backers of the visa increase. "It addresses the needs of the high-tech economy and ... there are ...