Grassley should support STEM immigration

During my time getting a Ph.D. from Iowa State University, and later teaching economics there, I had the pleasure of getting to know a lot of wonderful Ph.D. students who came to America from abroad and hoped to stay here after graduation. There is a proposal in Congress at the moment — the USICA conference — that can make it easier for science and technology Ph.D. students at U.S. colleges to remain in America after they graduate and Iowa’s Sen. Chuck Grassley will likely be the critical vote on whether the provision moves forward. He should make sure it does.

The case for this provision is incredibly strong. These students have already lived in the USA for several years, honing cutting edge skills. And we mostly paid for that, since rather than paying tuition, Ph.D. students usually receive a stipend for their education. After investing so much in these students, we should make it easier for them to stay here so their discoveries provide support for continued U.S. technological and economic leadership.

Almost 60 percent of Iowa Republicans support making it easier for STEM workers to legally immigrate to the U.S., and Sen. Grassley should ensure this provision is in the final bill.

Matt Clancy

Des Moines