The H-1B Visa program was created under President George H.W. Bush to assist companies in filling specialized jobs with qualified workers. Many companies insist they still need the program to fill critical positions. In a statement the National Association of Software and Services Companies said, "If US policy makes it more difficult to hire advanced tech workers, it will only weaken the US companies that depend on them to help fill their skills gaps, put jobs at risk, creating pressure to send technology services abroad". Each year the U.S. has a limited number of H-1B visas that can be distributed, and this number must be protected.