[Congressional Bills 105th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 2285 Introduced in House (IH)]







105th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 2285

To provide for the consideration, during fiscal year 1997, of petitions 
for classification under section 101(a)(15)(H)(i)(b) of the Immigration 
    and Nationality Act without regard to the numerical limitation 
applicable to such petitions, subject to a reduction in such limitation 
             for fiscal year 1998, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             July 29, 1997

 Ms. Lofgren  (for herself, Mr. Cannon, Mrs. Tauscher, Mr. Dreier, Mr. 
 Fazio of California, and Mr. Delahunt) introduced the following bill; 
          which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
To provide for the consideration, during fiscal year 1997, of petitions 
for classification under section 101(a)(15)(H)(i)(b) of the Immigration 
    and Nationality Act without regard to the numerical limitation 
applicable to such petitions, subject to a reduction in such limitation 
             for fiscal year 1998, and for other purposes.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. RULES FOR CONSIDERATION OF H-1B PETITIONS.

    (a) Rule for FY 1997.--Notwithstanding section 214(g)(1)(A) of the 
Immigration and Nationality Act--
            (1) for fiscal year 1997, the Attorney General shall issue 
        visas, or otherwise provide nonimmigrant status, to eligible 
        aliens under section 101(a)(15)(H)(i)(b) of such Act without 
        regard to the numerical limitation contained in section 
        214(g)(1)(A) of such Act; and
            (2) for each alien issued a visa or otherwise provided 
        nonimmigrant status pursuant to paragraph (1) in excess of 
        65,000, the numerical limitation in section 214(g)(1)(A) of 
        such Act, as applied for fiscal year 1998, shall be reduced by 
        1.
    (b) Ensuring Accurate Count.--In carrying out subsection (a), the 
Attorney General shall take such steps as are necessary to ensure that 
an accurate count is being maintained of the number of aliens subject 
to the numerical limitation of section 214(g)(1)(A) of such Act who are 
issued visas or otherwise provided nonimmigrant status.
    (c) Revision of Petition Form.--The Attorney General shall take 
such steps as are necessary to revise the form used for petitions for 
such visas or status so as to ensure that the form provides the 
Attorney General with sufficient information to permit the Attorney 
General accurately to count the number of aliens subject to the 
numerical limitation of section 214(g)(1)(A) of such Act who are issued 
visas or otherwise provided nonimmigrant status, and to permit the 
Attorney General to fulfill the reporting requirements of subsection 
(d).
    (d) Reports.--Using data from the forms used for petitions for such 
visas, the Attorney General shall annually provide to the Congress a 
report on--
            (1) the numbers of individuals who were issued visas or 
        otherwise provided nonimmigrant status during the preceding 
        year under section 101(a)(15)(H)(i)(b) of such Act; and
            (2) the countries of origin, educational levels attained, 
        occupations, and annual total compensation of individuals 
        issued visas or provided nonimmigrant status under such section 
        during such period.
                                 <all>