Advocacy
2015-Q3 MEDIA REPORT Keep EB-5 working for America published on The Hill on 9/23/15 by Peter D. Joseph, Executive Director of IIUSA “Since 2008, EB-5 has generated $11.92 billion in foreign direct investment. And, from 2010-2013 alone, the program contributed $9.62 billion to gross domestic product while supporting an average of 29,300 jobs per year. Over 95 percent of all EB-5 investments flow through EB-5 Regional Centers. … In the last few years, the federal government has stepped up oversight and enforcement, adding expertise and enhancing interagency cooperation to evaluate project and investor applications, define consistent adjudication policies, and weed out bad actors. This is a welcome development, and the EB-5 industry supports additional common-sense reforms to strengthen oversight and protect the integrity of the program.”
Seeing Through the Politics of EB-5 Reform published in Roll Call on 9/28/15 by Jeff Carr, Senior Economists at Economic and Policy Resources, Inc. “I’ve worked with nearly 200 EB-5 projects spanning 48 states and U.S. territories to provide the necessary independent economic analysis - required by the federal government - to ensure each project generates its intended economic impact. In the process, I have seen first-hand the program’s capacity to create thousands of good jobs across a broad range of industries.”
To Maintain ‘Business as Usual’ Across the Country, We Need a Robust Investor Visa Program published in Roll Call on 9/11/15 by Angelique Brunner, founder and president of EB5 Capital “In today’s economy, we cannot afford to lose such a prolific source of economic growth and job creation. … People around the world continue to invest their hardearned money in America’s investor visa program over those of other nations because they believe our ingenuity, entrepreneurship and integrity will deliver results. And as someone who has overseen a number of EB-5 funded projects in the D.C. area and beyond, I can assure you they do deliver.”
14 | IIUSA.ORG
EB-5 program is smart government policy published in The Hill on 09/17/15 by Thomas J. Donohue, President and CEO of U.S. Chamber of Commerce “These investments drive economic growth and job creation in the U.S. at no cost to taxpayers. This kind of smart government policy should be preserved….Smart government policies - backed by facts, data, and statistics - are needed now more than ever to ensure that the United States can compete in the global marketplace to attract foreign capital and help finance projects that put Americans to work.”
Restore Integrity of Visas published on 6/29/15 by Senator Chuck Grassley “Maintaining the integrity of our investment and employment-based visa programs would help preserve our heritage of welcoming lawabiding immigrants and roll out the welcome mat to lawful foreign investment in underserved areas. Both bring meaningful contributions to America’s banquet of opportunity. Straightening up these table settings would reinforce the rule of law and help boost economic growth and job creation.”
Dollars for green cards: EB-5 program grants visas, even citizenship, to foreigners who invest in U.S. published in the Orange County Register on 8/29/15 by Jeff Collins and Roxana Kopetman “The program is basically to create jobs and stimulate the economy. We’re getting many projects and buildings that we would not otherwise have - be they stadiums, be they high-rises. And that stimulates the economy. Not only by the investments, but by (wealthy immigrants) coming to live here. And they continue to invest here.” - David Hirson, immigration attorney/partner at David Hirson & Partners, LLP
The EB-5 Regional Center Program is about economic development & American Jobs published in The Examiner on 9/28/15 by Rudy Pamintuan, chairman for the U.S.-Asia Center and managing director for Sherman Worldwide “With stricter oversight and management, the EB-5 Regional Center Program is extremely beneficial to America. An extension with strong integrity measures … will create a favorable environment for the regional centers operating ‘above board’. … We need this program to be extended to give our country the tools necessary to help create jobs and strengthen our nation’s economy.”
EB-5 Visas Help Many Who Aren’t at all Wealthy published in the Wall Street Journal on 9/26/15 by Walter M. “Marty” Cummins Jr. of Florida EB-5 Investments LLC “During the Great Recession the EB-5 visa program funded businesses that couldn’t get funding from any other source, and it still provides much needed capital. The program provides “patient”, low-cost capital that allows businesses the time to develop and flourish. Many of these jobs will simply cease to exist if Congress fails to renew this successful program.”
VOL. 3, ISSUE #3, OCTOBER 2015