[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 134 (Wednesday, October 1, 1997)]
[Senate]
[Page S10305]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     RELIGIOUS WORKERS ACT OF 1997

  Ms. COLLINS. Mr. President, I ask the Chair lay before the Senate a 
message from the House of Representatives on (S. 1198) to amend the 
Immigration and Nationality Act to provide permanent authority for 
entry into the United States of certain religious workers.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER laid before the Senate the following message 
from the House of Representatives:
       Resolved, That the bill from the Senate (S. 1198) entitled 
     ``An Act to amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to 
     provide permanent authority for entry into the United States 
     of certain religious workers.'', do pass with the following 
     amendments:
       Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert:

     SECTION 1. 3-YEAR EXTENSION OF SPECIAL IMMIGRANT RELIGIOUS 
                   WORKER PROGRAM.

       (a) In General.--Section 101(a)(27)(C)(ii) of the 
     Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1101(a)(27)(C)(ii)) 
     is amended by striking ``1997,'' each place it appears and 
     inserting ``2000,''.
       (b) Effective Date.--The amendment made by subsection (a) 
     shall take effect on the date of the enactment of this Act.

     SEC. 2. WAIVER OF NONIMMIGRANT VISA FEES FOR CERTAIN 
                   CHARITABLE PURPOSES.

       (a) In General.--Section 281 of the Immigration and 
     Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1351) is amended by adding at the 
     end the following new sentence: ``Subject to such criteria as 
     the Secretary of State may prescribe, including the duration 
     of stay of the alien and the financial burden upon the 
     charitable organization, the Secretary of State shall waive 
     or reduce the fee for application and issuance of a 
     nonimmigrant visa for any alien coming to the United States 
     primarily for, or in activities related to, a charitable 
     purpose involving health or nursing care, the provision of 
     food or housing, job training, or any other similar direct 
     service or assistance to poor or otherwise needy individuals 
     in the United States.''.
       (b) Effective Date.--The amendment made by subsection (a) 
     shall take effect on the date of the enactment of this Act.

     SEC. 3. 6-MONTH EXTENSION OF DEADLINE FOR DESIGNATION OF 
                   EFFECTIVE DATE FOR PAPERWORK CHANGES IN 
                   EMPLOYER SANCTIONS PROGRAM.

       (a) In General.--Section 412(e)(1) of the Illegal 
     Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996 
     (Public law 104-208; 110 Stat. 3009-668) is amended by 
     striking ``12'' and inserting ``18''.
       (b) Effective Date.--The amendment made by subsection (a) 
     shall take effect as if included in the enactment of the 
     Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act 
     of 1996.
       Amend the title so as to read ``A bill to amend the 
     Immigration and Nationality Act to extend the special 
     immigrant religious worker program, to amend the Illegal 
     Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996 
     to extend the deadline for designation of an effective date 
     for paperwork changes in the employer sanctions program, and 
     to require the Secretary of State to waive or reduce the fee 
     for application and issuance of a nonimmigrant visa for 
     aliens coming to the United States for certain charitable 
     purposes.''.

  Ms. COLLINS. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate 
concur in the amendments of the House.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.

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