Critics argue that more H-1Bs are not needed and that US employers give preference to young foreigners with H-1B visas over older US workers because the immigrants are willing to put in the very long hours common in many high-tech jobs.  The author of the T-visa proposal, Rep. Zoe Lofgren (D-CA), attempted to counter this criticism by requiring the INS to report every six months the occupation, employer, salary, degree and degree granting institution for each foreigner with a T visa and requiring that the $1,000 per T-visa fee be deposited in a the High-Tech Education Fund Account to bolster science and engineering education.

The National Research Council's Committee on Workforce Issues in Information Technology held a hearing in September 1999 on whether high-tech firms need more H-1B workers.  At the end of the hearing, after which chair Alan Merten said that "It's a very small portion of their workforce, and it's not going to make or break them." Eileen Appelbaum, a committee member, said "There's no evidence in the data to think there's a shortage." For more information: www.itworkforce.org