| Contacts: | Jeff Joseph tel: 703 907-7664 e-mail: jjoseph@CE.org |
Jenny Pareti tel: 703 907 7079 e-mail: jpareti@CE.org |
CEA Weighs In on U.S. Visa Backlog on Behalf of IAEM
Gary Shapiro Urges Congress to Ensure Timely Visa Processing
| Arlington, Virginia | 6/4/2003 |
Testifying today before the U.S. House of Representatives Small Business Committee on behalf of the International Association for Exhibition Management (IAEM), Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) President and CEO Gary Shapiro, urged Congress to consider "Fast Track" approval and devote the necessary resources to ensure timely visa processing.
"With the visa process in place today, we are sending the message to the world that the U.S. welcome mat has been pulled," Shapiro said. "On behalf of CEA and IAEM, I urge you to carefully consider how onerous visa requirements impact our nation's ability to attract foreign buyers to do business with tens of thousands of entrepreneurial American companies participating in U.S. trade shows."
Shapiro told the Committee that potential attendees from nations with emerging economies - who provide U.S. business owners with the greatest opportunities for business growth and development - are the most unlikely to be granted visas today, even if they have been repeat business visitors to the United States who have not violated U.S. Immigration policies or law. The result is lost convention space sales and a lost opportunity for the U.S. to become the preeminent destination for international trade shows and business.
"It is for these reasons that IAEM advocates the creation of a new 'Fast Track' visa approval system that safely discriminates between those who have demonstrated their trustworthiness and those who have not," Shapiro said.
"We agree with U.S. law enforcement that national security must remain our highest priority, but at the same time, we also believe that our national security depends upon U.S. economic growth and our continued ability to do business with those from outside the United States."
About IAEM:
The International Association for Exhibition Management (IAEM) is the premier association for all individuals with business interests in the exhibition industry. Today IAEM represents over 3,500 individuals, located in 42 nations, who conduct and support exhibitions around the world.
About CEA:
The Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) is the preeminent trade association promoting growth in the consumer technology industry through technology policy, events, research, promotion and the fostering of business and strategic relationships. CEA represents more than 1,000 corporate members involved in the design, development, manufacturing, distribution and integration of audio, video, mobile electronics, wireless and landline communications, information technology, home networking, multimedia and accessory products, as well as related services that are sold through consumer channels. Combined, CEA's members account for more than $85 billion in annual sales. CEA's resources are available online at www.CE.org, the definitive source for information about the consumer electronics industry.
CEA also sponsors and manages the International CES - Defining Tomorrow's Technology. All profits from CES are reinvested into industry services, including technical training and education, industry promotion, engineering standards development, market research and legislative advocacy.