Our Bureau
Washington, DC
ITServe Alliance, the largest association of IT Solutions & Services organizations in the US, is organizing the 2024 edition of Capitol Hill Day on September 18. The event held every year at Capitol Hill provides a platform for ITServe Alliance to use its collective voice for advocacy of its key policies for betterment of IT sector with US policymakers.
“ITServe Alliance’s next in-person Capitol Hill Day in Washington, DC has been planned to be held on September 18th, 2024,” said Nayan Joshi, Director of ITServe Alliance Policy Advocacy Committee (PAC). “At ITServe Alliance Policy Advocacy Committee (PAC), our objective is to make ITServe more known, visible, and effective in both the Senate and Houses of Congress. Through Capitol Hill Day, we continue to advocate for policies that support ITServe’s objectives.”
The PAC and CONNECT PAC members actively worked hard and participated in the first-ever in-person Capitol Hill Day organized by ITServe Alliance in Washington, DC in 2023. Their efforts resulted in overwhelming support from the nearly 180 key US Representatives and Senators, including influential committee chairs and members from both the Democrat and Republican Parties whom ITServe members met, eliciting support for the causes put forth by ITServe. In 2024, organizers of ITServe’s Capitol Hill Day are hoping to have maximum participation and impact from the event.
“ITServe Alliance has been consistently working to safeguard the interests of its members,” said Amar Varada, ITServe’s Chair of the Governing Board. “To that end, ITServe Alliance has been lobbying with the Lawmakers on behalf of its members on Capitol Hill and with the US Administration. And our ultimate mission is to keep the innovation and jobs within the country.”
Stressing the importance of ITServe and the Legislative Day, Jagadeesh Mosali, President of ITServe said, “ITServe Alliance’s Capitol Hill Day has effectively served as a powerful platform in educating policymakers on the issues that are important to our members and the business community, ensuring that our needs and views are reflected in policy debates and outcomes on Capitol Hill. The U.S. needs to maintain its leadership in technology and innovation.”
“ITServe was born out of the necessity to protect the interests of the member companies of ITServe,” said Gopi Kandukuri, CPAC – Board Director. “To achieve our goals that benefit the IT Sector companies, the labor force, and the larger US economy, our process hinges on our 3 fundamental pillars of the ITServe PAC: educate, lobby, and litigate.”
“A major objective for ITServe Alliance has been to protect its members’ needs. To that end, ITServe Alliance, through its PAC team advocates on Capitol Hill and with the US Administration. Capitol Hill Day serves as a perfect platform to communicate our collective voice with key policymakers on important issues to our members,” added Kris Gadde, CPAC – Board Director.
Foreign (non-immigrant) workers fill a critical need in the U.S. labor market, particularly in the technology field. Every year, U.S. employers seeking highly skilled foreign professionals submit their petitions for the pool of H-1B visa numbers for which U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) controls the allocation. With a low statutory limit of visa numbers available, demand for H-1B visa numbers has outstripped the supply in recent years, and the cap has reached quickly.
Studies have shown that skilled immigrants’ contributions to the U.S. economy help create new jobs and new opportunities for economic expansion. It is estimated that an increase in H-1B visas could create an additional 1.3 million new jobs and add close to $158 billion to the gross domestic product in the United States by 2045.
ITServe supports the HIRE ACT Bill (High Skilled Immigration Reform for Employment), introduced in Congress recently. Innovation, STEM education, and avoiding brain drain are the highlights of the Bill. Another area, where ITServe has focused is the STEM Program to promote the “American Ingenuity Account” to fund State-administered grants for STEM education and worker training. Enhancing the current H1B CAP limits – from 65,000 to 130,000 per year has been a major area where ITServe has placed its efforts in recent years.
Capitol Day is the perfect way for ITServe Alliance to use its collective voice to communicate with policymakers on the issues that are important to its members.
Anju Vallabhaneni, President-Elect of ITServe, while summarizing the importance of Capitol Hill Day said, “ITServe Alliance is consistently working to protect its members’ needs. In addition to addressing key concerns faced by small businesses, including high-skilled immigration reforms, a major objective of Capitol Hill Day is to showcase to the Lawmakers some of the significant contributions of the ITServe member companies to the country’s economy through Technology & Innovation, local employment, CSR activities, and STEM education.”
Urging ITServe members to be active and work collaboratively in making this important event successful, Hima Kolanagireddy, CPAC – Managing Director said, “It’s our collective voice. I call upon every member to be part of this important event, advocate for ITServe, and make our voices heard in the corridors of power. Also, if you have a relationship with a member of the Congress or their staff, please urge them to be part of this milestone event. With your help, we can accomplish our goals through grassroots and advocacy.”
“At ITServe’s PAC, we advocate for more robust and favorable policies that benefit small & medium IT Companies,” said Joshi. “We work towards protecting our ITServe member companies from Agency overreach, egregious rules & regulations, unjustified fee increases, and unnecessary & time-consuming department visits. Come join us on September 18th and make our voices heard on the corridors of power.”
ITServe Alliance, the largest association of IT Solutions & Services organizations in the US, represents over 2,600 member companies and serves as their collective voice. For more information on ITServe, visit its website.
