From Canada, with cash

Qualcomm, which has been lobbying hard this year for more visas for foreign workers, isn’t the only local concern that has been spending heavily in a bid to get more people from abroad into the country. Federal disclosure records show that SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment, Inc., spent $160,000 during this year’s third quarter on JOLT, the Jobs Originated through Launching Travel Act of 2013, which remains sitting in a House committee awaiting action.

According to the Congressional Research Service description, the measure would “establish a pilot fee-based premium processing service to expedite visa interview appointments.” It would also “admit into the United States a qualifying Canadian citizen over 50 years old and spouse for a period not to exceed 240 days if the person maintains a Canadian residence and owns a U.S. residence or has rented a U.S. accommodation for the duration of such stay.”

On a more controversial note, the marine park also lobbied regarding provisions in Senate Bill 744 “relating to the State Departments Student Summer Work Travel Program.” S.B. 744, the so-called immigration reform measure, officially titled the Border Security, Economic Opportunity, and Immigration Modernization Act, passed the Senate June 27, but remains stalled in the House.