LANCASTER, Pa.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 30, 2003--U. S. Senate candidate Charles Crystle today challenged U.S. Reps. Joseph M. Hoeffel (D-PA) and Patrick Toomey (R-PA) and U.S. Senator Arlen Specter (R-PA) - fellow candidates from Pennsylvania for U. S. Senate - to address the job loss caused by corporate abuse of L-1 and H-1B visas. Attention to this issue is mounting as members of Congress and advocates alike are realizing the consequences of what Crystle called "institutionalized 'in-sourcing' of cheap labor at the expense of American high-tech workers."

Crystle specifically mentioned the L-1 visa, saying that it has caused a dramatic loss of American jobs, especially in the technology sector. As founder of business software company ChiliSoft (a software company now owned by Sun Microsystems (SUNW)), Crystle knows firsthand the powerful impact the technology sector can have on the American economy. Calling for grassroots advocacy "to stop the unfair practice of 'in-sourcing'," Crystle is sponsoring an online petition drive at http://www.CrystleForSenate.com/visa to encourage the federal government to take action to protect American workers.

Companies are using both the L-1 and H-1B visas to replace American workers with foreign workers. The H-1B is supposed to be a tool for companies to supplement their workforces when no American workers are available for a skilled position, but companies are simply ignoring that requirement, as well as the requirement to pay foreign workers U.S. market rates.

The L-1 Visa allows companies to hire foreign employees in a host country, transfer them to the United States, and pay them rock bottom wages with few or no benefits, while American technology workers face unemployment. Large technology firms have extensively exploited the L-1 visa as they seek ways to cut costs, regardless of the cost to American workers and communities. This permits multi-national corporations to underbid small and mid-sized American businesses for federal and state government contracts - even though the majority of the work is performed by foreign labor.

"This is terrible for America. The American technology worker loses his job to cheap labor, and then his replacement is paid a pittance and often works in sweatshop conditions," said Crystle. "The bottom line is clear: no one wins, except for corporate politicians and their corporate friends who fund their campaigns."

Crystle argued that at a time when Pennsylvanians are looking for a solution to the state's economic woes, citizens and their representatives cannot afford to sit by and watch the federal government pass legislation that puts Americans out of work.

"Both blue collar and white collar jobs are quickly leaving the country under the current administration. If our federal government keeps selling out our workers so that big corporations can exploit cheaper labor at our expense, the economy--in Pennsylvania or any other state--isn't going to improve one bit," Crystle said. "Pennsylvanians deserve Senators in Washington who will lead and attack economic problems head-on. Arlen Specter and Rick Santorum have failed us when it comes to jobs and the economy. Gentlemen, it's time to act on behalf of American workers or step down"

Crystle, who is running for the Democratic nomination for U.S. Senate from Pennsylvania against Rep. Hoeffel, said he was encouraged by steps taken by some members of Congress on the issue but is disappointed that none of the other candidates in the Senate race have taken the lead on the issue. "Every day they fail to lead with or embrace a solution is another day that American technology workers lose jobs and small American companies lose business," Crystle said. "It's simple: close the L-1 loophole and reduce or eliminate the H-1B visa until Americans are working again. These visas should be strictly supplemental, but they've been exploited and we're hurting because of it."

Crystle applauded the mobilizing efforts of the Communication Workers of America and their projects TechsUnite (http://www.techsunite.org) and Alliance@IBM (http://www.allianceibm.org). Crystle's Visa Reform petition can be accessed at http://www.CrystleForSenate.com/visa. For more information about Charlie Crystle and his 2004 race to represent Pennsylvania in the United States Senate, see http://www.CrystleForSenate.com.