[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 37 (Friday, March 27, 1998)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E503-E504]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                EXTENDING THE VISA WAIVER PILOT PROGRAM

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                          HON. ROBERT MENENDEZ

                             of new jersey

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, March 25, 1998

       The House in Committee of the Whole House on the State of 
     the Union had under consideration the bill (H.R. 2578) to 
     amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to extend the visa 
     waiver pilot program, and to

[[Page E504]]

     provide for the collection of data with respect to the number 
     of nonimmigrations who remain in the United States after the 
     expiration of the period of stay authorized by the Attorney 
     General:

  Mr. MENENDEZ. Mr. Speaker, the issue before us today is not a 
question of illegal immigration, there is no threat of an impending 
wave of illegal Greek or Portuguese immigration to the United States.
  The question before us is one of fairness. It is a question of doing 
what is right by two countries who are our allies, our friends and our 
business partners. It is fair and right to extend the same rights to 
Greece and Portugal that we do to 25 other nations--the right to enter 
the U.S. freely for travel and business.
  Prior to the passage of the 1996 Illegal Immigration Reform Act, 
Greece and Portugal would have been admitted to the Visa Waiver Program 
because their visa refusal rates are below three percent.
  Concern about illegal immigration is misplaced and fails to recognize 
that the Greek and Portuguese economies are strong and unemployment 
rates are among the lowest in Europe--there is little incentive for 
people to leave their enchanting countries for ours.
  Moreover, immigration to the United States from those countries is no 
greater than U.S. immigration to Greece and Portugal.
  Finally, both of these communities have made enormous contributions 
to our country. In my district, the Portuguese American community has 
transformed part of New Jersey's great cities--Newark, Elizabeth, and 
Perth Amboy. And the Greek community's influence has been equally 
remarkable.
  We need to level the playing field and let the Portuguese and Greek 
people know that the United States welcomes them as tourists and 
business travelers, as we do their other European counterparts.

                          ____________________