Immigration overhaul

It seems that my guess is right. The NYT piece about China Drawing High-Tech Research From U.S. has an agenda more than just research spending or competing with China. It is also an effort to push for immigration reform.
 

It minimizes access for future blue-collar foreign workers and favors visas for highly educated immigrants.

The plan’s emphasis is on making it easier for highly skilled and educated immigrants to come to the United States, including awarding residence documents known as green cards to those who receive advanced degrees in science and technology from American universities.