Clinton, Obama and McCain Vote For/Against Tech

Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama or John McCain will be the next president of the United States. All three have cast votes in the 110th Congress that affect technology, and according to the Computer and Communications Industry Association, Obama voted with IT 86 percent of the time, followed by Clinton (79 percent) and McCain (64 percent).

America Competes ActThe bill authorizes $21 billion through 2010 for science and math education. The bill also requires the president to issue a report identifying research and technology challenges and programs the federal government should invest in for a five-year period. The bill passed by a vote of 88-8.

Renewable Fuels, Consumer Protection and Energy Efficiency ActThe legislation contains many initiatives to encourage innovation in more sustainable green technologies. Provisions that are important to the high-tech industries include smart grid technologies that would improve the nation’s energy efficiency by using computing technology to modernize our electrical grid, tax incentives for green technologies and data center efficiency programs, among others. This motion was agreed to by a vote of 65-27.

Comprehensive Immigration ReformThis bill would overhaul U.S. immigration policies, addressing both legal and illegal immigration. Regarding visas for skilled workers, the bill would increase the annual cap on H-1B visas and establish a new self-sponsored skills points system for employment-based green cards. The bill would also institute new border security measures, including an electronic verification system. The motion was rejected by a vote of 46-53.

Cornyn Amendment to College Cost Reduction and Access ActThe Cornyn amendment would have increased the H-1B visa cap to 115,000 for 2008. It would require that 20,000 of such visas be reserved for those with graduate degrees from a U.S. school. This motion was rejected by a vote of 40-55 (60 votes were needed).

Protect America Act (FISA Without Oversight)The bill would amend the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act of 1978 to expand the authority of the attorney general and the director of National Intelligence to conduct surveillance of the communication between suspected foreign terrorists without a court warrant. Communications companies would be compelled to comply with the government’s conduct of such surveillance. FISA would not have direct oversight over it, which is necessary to ensure that the government does not abuse its surveillance power. The bill passed on a vote of 60-28.

Protect America Act (FISA with Supervision)This bill was similar to the legislation without supervision, but was more limited in scope and included safeguards such as protecting Americans overseas from warrantless surveillance. The bill was rejected by a vote of 43-45.

U.S.-Peru Free Trade AgreementThe agreement would reduce most tariffs and duties currently affecting trade between the two countries, increase protections for intellectual property, and require Peru to take steps to strengthen its labor and environmental enforcement standards. Under the agreement, 80 percent of U.S. exports of consumer and industrial goods to Peru would enter duty-free immediately. This agreement was approved by a vote of 77-18.