[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 115 (Thursday, September 6, 2001)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1595]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




     PROVIDING FOR WORK AUTHORIZATION FOR NONIMMIGRANT SPOUSES OF 
                        INTRACOMPANY TRANSFEREES

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                               speech of

                         HON. JOHN CONYERS, JR.

                              of michigan

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, September 5, 2001

  Mr. CONYERS. Mr. Speaker, I support passage of this legislation, 
which makes two positive changes to immigration law. First, because of 
how current immigration law operates, multi-national companies are 
having a difficult time encouraging overseas employees to work in the 
United States. This is because U.S. law would not permit the spouses of 
those employees to work here; in essence, if the employee wants to 
relocate to the United States with a spouse, that spouse would have to 
give up his or her career. The effect is to deny such families the 
ability to seek two incomes and to limit our revenues from taxing that 
second income. To rectify this, H.R. 2278 changes the law so that 
spouses of intra-company transferees can work in the United States.
  Second, current law requires that intra-company transferees be 
continuously employed in the United States for one year before being 
eligible for permanent residency here. This long waiting period makes 
it difficult for employers to bring qualified employees to the United 
States. H.R. 2278 corrects this situation by reducing the waiting 
period to six months. This bill is good for immigrant families, and it 
is good for employers.

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