[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 119 (Wednesday, September 3, 2003)]
[Senate]
[Page S11034]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. HATCH (for himself, Mr. Kennedy, and Mr. DeWine):
  S. 1580. A bill to amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to 
extend the special immigrant religious worker program; to the Committee 
on the Judiciary.
  Mr. HATCH. Mr. President, I rise today to introduce the Religious 
Workers' Act of 2003. It provides permanent authority for 5,000 visas 
per year for non-minister religious workers. These religious workers 
fulfill a need in the religious communities around this nation. I would 
like to thank Senators Kennedy and  Chambliss for cosponsoring this 
bill.
  The provision relating to the ``non-minister'' religious workers was 
enacted through the Immigration Act of 1990. Prior to 1990, churches, 
synagogues, mosques, and their affiliated organizations experienced 
significant difficulties in trying to gain admission for a much needed 
minister or other persons necessary to provide religious services to 
the communities. Through the 1990 Act, Congress recognized that 
religious institutions deserved to be on equal footing as the business 
and educational institutions in terms of having their human resources 
needs addressed.
  I would like to quote from a letter written by the last Mother 
Theresa to Senator Abraham shortly before her passing, asking for 
continuation of this visa category when it was about to sunset in 1997. 
Mother Theresa said:

       It means so much to our poor people, to have Sisters who 
     understand them and their culture. It takes a long time for a 
     Sister to understand the people and a culture, so now our 
     Society wants to keep our Sisters in their mission countries 
     on a more long-term basis. Please help us and our poor by 
     extending this law.

  The simple plea of this great humanitarian speak volumes regarding 
why this law is needed.
  In addition, I recently received a letter from Bishop Thomas Wenski, 
Chairman of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops' Committee on 
Migration. Bishop Wenski tells me that the religious workers covered by 
this act would provide humanitarian services to the most needy, such as 
shelter and nutrition. They would care for and minister to the sick, 
aged, and dying in hospitals. They counsel adolescents and others 
suffering hardship, and support families in crisis. Bishop Wenski 
further advises that there is a ``rapid decrease in the number of 
Americans turning to religious vocations. . . . In these times of 
uncertainty, it is more important than ever that faith based 
organizations be able to serve the communities through the essential 
services provided by religious workers.''
  The extension would allow religious organizations to continue their 
important programs and would provide a measure of stability that 
religious organizations need to set long term objectives. It is very 
important that faith-based organizations be able to serve the community 
through the essential services provided by religious workers.
  I ask for the support of my colleagues for the Religious Workers' Act 
of 2003.
  I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be printed in the 
Record.
  There being no objection, the bill was ordered to be printed in the 
Record, as follows:

                                S. 1580

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

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

       This Act may be cited as the ``Religious Workers Act of 
     2003''.

     SEC. 2. PERMANENT 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 ``2003'' each place that term appears 
     and inserting ``2008''.
       (b) Effective Date.--The amendment made by subsection (a) 
     shall take effect on October 1, 2003.
                                 ______