A proposed provision in a federal comprehensive immigration bill that would have prohibited use of H-1B visas by staffing firms was up for a decision Thursday. However, TechServe Alliance CEO Mark Roberts said today it does not appear such use will be barred. Still, Roberts cautioned there are more battles to come in the legislative process.

“We’re reasonably optimistic that there will be language that our industry can work with,” he said.

Thursday was an important juncture because it marks the introduction of the bill by the “Gang of Eight” bipartisan group of U.S. senators.

The TechServe Alliance had an all-out lobbying effort in effect yesterday to remove the proposed provision.