Obama administration making the case for immigration reform with Nobel-winning STEM leaders

BYBen Gilbert @RealBenGilbert5 hours ago

0

Nobel-winning biochemist Thomas Südhof isn't necessarily a household name, but he is an incredibly accomplished gentleman with a delightful German accent. Südhof took up citizenship in the United States, he says in a video released by the White House (seen below), because he was "looking for opportunities to contribute." As such, he's banded together with a crew of other Nobel Prize winners from STEM fields -- Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics -- to support immigration reform.

So, why are these Nobel Laureates working with the White House on immigration reform? Biologist Randy Schekman sums it up nicely at the top of the video: "close to one-third" of the membership of the National Academy of Sciences is made up of folks who came to the United States from abroad. In so many words, many of the US' top STEM leaders weren't born in the US, but later came to embrace US citizenship. These Nobel Prize winners -- and the White House -- believe the immigration reform bill that's waiting for the House of Representatives to vote on will entice even more STEM leaders to move to the US.

The video is part of a bigger initiative the White House is pushing to pressure the United States House of Representatives into passing the "Border Security, Economic Opportunity, and Immigration Modernization Act" (PDF). Having successfully passed the US Senate last summer, the bipartisan bill is sitting in limbo while the House decides whether or not to hear it. Should the House not take up the bill for voting soon, it'll likely be some time before any action is taken; with midterm elections this fall, hope for a vote will disappear sooner than later.

Beyond the video, the White House is publishing several blog posts that aim to, "highlight the importance and history of high-skilled immigrants to keeping our nation's economy on the forefront of innovation," a White House spokesperson said. We're told that folks from the world of tech may even be involved -- not exactly a first for Silicon Valley's big names.

Regardless, consider today the kickoff for the White House's tech and science arm getting involved in the immigration reform debate. And expect an even bigger push at this Wednesday's first-ever White House Maker Faire; a video detailing said "faire" is just below.

[Image credit: AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin]

0 Comments

Tags: barackobama, obamaadministration, stem, whitehouse, whitehousemakerfaire, whitehousemakerfaire2014 Next: 'Breaking Bad' hits Netflix in 4K today .fyre .fyre-comment-divider > span.fyre-comment-reply-wrapper {top: 18px;}.fyre .fyre-comment-divider > a, .fyre .fyre-comment-divider > a:hover {top: 20px;} ✖AboutAbout EngadgetContact usAdvertiseAbout Our AdsCommunityForumsEngadget MetaCommunity guidelinesReviewsProduct reviewsWrite a reviewContributeSend us a tip!Add to our databaseWrite a reviewStart a discussionAsk a questionLive eventsEngadget ExpandEngadget LivePopular topicsMobileHDAltSoftwareAppleFollow EngadgetEngadget AppsMore Apps from Engadget

Subscribe to Engadget Newsletter

Top categoriescellphoneslaptops / portablestabletsheadphonescamerasroutershdtvs / televisionsportable media playersfitness devicese-book readersdigital media playersMobileCellphonesTabletsBluetooth HeadsetsGPSPhotographyCamerasCamera LensesCamcordersDigital Photo FramesGamingConsoles (home)Consoles (portable)Controllers / GamepadsJoysticks / Flight / RacingComputersLaptops/PortablesDesktopsOperating SystemsPeripheralsKeyboardsMiceMonitorsComputer SpeakersHeadsetsPrintersScannersPen TabletsUSB / Firewire HubsWebcamsPersonal TechHeadphonesPortable Media PlayersE-book ReadersFitnessMiscellaneous DevicesNetworkingRoutersSwitches / HubsStorageExternal Hard DrivesFlash DrivesMemory CardsNetwork StorageRAID / Drive ArraysHome TheaterHDTVs / TelevisionsSpeaker DocksDigital Media PlayersRemotes / ControllersA/V ReceiversDVRsSpeakersVideo Disc Players Engadget International EditionsEspañol繁體中文简体中文日本版DeutschlandAOL Tech.

© 2014 AOL Inc.
All rights reserved.Reprints and PermissionsPrivacy PolicyTerms of UseTrademarksAOL A-Z HelpAdvertise with Us

#close-ad{ display: none; } @media only screen and (max-width: 768px) {#mobileaddiv {width: 100%;position: fixed;bottom:-4px;z-index: 1000; overflow-y: visible; padding:0;margin:0} #close-ad { display: none; position: fixed; bottom: 45px; right: 5px; z-index: 2000; background: #000; padding: 0px 5px 0; border: 2px solid #fff; border-radius: 50% 50%; } #close-ad a{ color: #fff; font-size: 12px; }}

View the Original article

Reform of the NSA project "Emptied" passes to the House, but solves supporters

This is not exactly what privacy advocates and wanted the most technology companies, but it is something. The freedom of the United States Act passed by the House of representatives, but he escaped unscathed. While the main elements that have survived, lost other changes or upset. One of the changes controversial Bill, which came from the Judicial Committee has a broader definition of a "mandate of the specific selection" you their requirements used by the NSA to define data. The original language allowed the Government tried documents in connection with a "person, firm or company. Was he recorded "Address or device" in this list, leave room for the data request which adopted very wide 303 votes on the floor of the capital against 12 votes. Of course, the original version of the law was a much narrower definition, which led many proponents of privacy such as the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) and technology companies such as Google, to delete support for the Bill, when he leaves too much room for abuse.

The amended law would control also customers of the approval by the Director of national intelligence, rather than the Attorney General, apparently from the intelligence community to self-regulate. The level of detail, which can share the company data requirements is proposed also the Wisconsin Republican Jim Sensenbrenner scale. The NSA is also entitled the devices "on" a specific target, rather than only the messages sent or received by the potential threat by get. These changes have betrayed leaving several defenders at the beginning of the printing of the draft of law. The EFF said it was "appalled" by the ' empty ' - law, which finally cleared the House. While companies such as Google and Facebook, supported the Bill have support.

But the law on the freedom of the United States is not without his supporters. Many in the House, including Sensenbrenner, believe it is a step in the right direction, it may be so low. Although this probably not the bulk-data collection is completed, it will confine access the NSA. Databases are now held by the Compagnies de Téléphone for 18 months and not indefinitely by the Government. The NSA have the information he wants, and specifically requesting the probable cause for applications. This is a pretty radical change in the current system, all data gathered by the Government, what it wants. Sensenbrenner detected problems but urged to support others that Bill said: "Let no ideal has become the enemy of the good." The Bill has the support of the White House, though it counts not much among privacy advocates.

The law on the freedom of the United States go now in the Senate the possibility of multiple changes. But if it because without significant change, it is almost guaranteed by President Barack Obama are announced.

0 comments to share

Source: Washington Post

More coverage: the threshold, new America Foundation, Electronic Frontier Foundation

Tags: breaking news, Congress, House of representatives, NSA, privacy, surveillance, United States freedom then act: Smartglass turns any surface into a touch screen with .fyre heat AR and .fyre-comment-divider fingertips

View the Original article