[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 88 (Monday, June 4, 2007)]
[Senate]
[Pages S7006-S7013]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                           TEXT OF AMENDMENTS

  SA 1257. Mr. DOMENICI (for himself, Mr. Kyl, Mr. Cornyn, and Mrs. 
Hutchison) submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by him to the 
bill S. 1348, to provide for comprehensive immigration reform and for 
other purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows:

       At the appropriate place, insert the following:

     SEC. __. INCREASE IN FEDERAL JUDGESHIPS IN DISTRICTS WITH 
                   LARGE NUMBERS OF CRIMINAL IMMIGRATION CASES.

       (a) Findings.--Based on the recommendations made by the 
     2007 Judicial Conference and the statistical data provided by 
     the 2006 Federal Court Management Statistics (issued by the 
     Administrative Office of the United States Courts), the 
     Congress finds the following:
       (1) Federal courts along the southwest border of the United 
     States have a greater percentage of their criminal caseload 
     affected by immigration cases than other Federal courts.
       (2) The percentage of criminal immigration cases in most 
     southwest border district courts totals more than 49 percent 
     of the total criminal caseloads of those districts.
       (3) The current number of judges authorized for those 
     courts is inadequate to handle the current caseload.
       (4) Such an increase in the caseload of criminal 
     immigration filings requires a corresponding increase in the 
     number of Federal judgeships.
       (5) The 2007 Judicial Conference recommended the addition 
     of judgeships to meet this growing burden.
       (6) The Congress should authorize the additional district 
     court judges necessary to carry out the 2007 recommendations 
     of the Judicial Conference for district courts in which the 
     criminal immigration filings represented more than 49 percent 
     of all criminal filings for the 12-month period ending 
     September 30, 2006.
       (b) Purpose.--The purpose of this section is to increase 
     the number of Federal judgeships, in accordance with the 
     recommendations of the 2007 Judicial Conference, in district 
     courts that have an extraordinarily high criminal immigration 
     caseload.
       (c) Additional District Court Judgeships.--
       (1) Permanent judgeships.--
       (A) In general.--The President shall appoint, by and with 
     the advice and consent of the Senate--
       (i) 4 additional district judges for the district of 
     Arizona;
       (ii) 1 additional district judge for the district of New 
     Mexico;
       (iii) 2 additional district judges for the southern 
     district of Texas; and
       (iv) 1 additional district judge for the western district 
     of Texas.
       (B) Conforming amendments.--In order that the table 
     contained in section 133(a) of title 28, United States Code, 
     reflect the number of additional judges authorized under 
     paragraph (1), such table is amended--
       (i) by striking the item relating to Arizona and inserting 
     the following:

``Arizona.........................................................16'';

       (ii) by striking the item relating New Mexico and inserting 
     the following:

``New Mexico...................................................7''; and

       (iii) by striking the item relating to Texas and inserting 
     the following:

``Texas
  Northern.......................................................... 12
  Southern.......................................................... 21
  Eastern...........................................................  7
  Western.........................................................14''.

       (2) Temporary judgeships.--
       (A) In general.--The President shall appoint, by and with 
     the advice and consent of the Senate--
       (i) 1 additional district judge for the district of 
     Arizona; and
       (ii) 1 additional district judge for the district of New 
     Mexico.
       (B) Vacancy.--For each of the judicial districts named in 
     this paragraph, the first vacancy arising on the district 
     court 10 years or more after a judge is first confirmed to 
     fill the temporary district judgeship created in that 
     district by this paragraph shall not be filled.

  SA 1258. Mr. DOMENICI (for himself, Mr. Kyl, Mr. Cornyn, and Mrs.

[[Page S7007]]

Hutchison) submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by him to the 
bill S. 1348, to provide for comprehensive immigration reform and for 
other purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows:

       At the appropriate place, insert the following:

     SEC. __. DISTRICT JUDGES FOR THE DISTRICT COURTS IN BORDER 
                   STATES.

       (a) In General.--The President shall appoint, by and with 
     the advice and consent of the Senate--
       (1) 4 additional district judges for the district of 
     Arizona;
       (2) 4 additional district judges for the central district 
     of California;
       (3) 4 additional district judges for the eastern of 
     California;
       (4) 2 additional district judges for the northern district 
     of California;
       (5) 1 additional district judge for the district of 
     Minnesota;
       (6) 1 additional district judge for the district of New 
     Mexico;
       (7) 3 additional district judges for the eastern district 
     of New York;
       (8) 1 additional district judge for the western district of 
     New York;
       (9) 1 additional district judge for the eastern district of 
     Texas;
       (10) 2 additional district judges for the southern district 
     of Texas;
       (11) 1 additional district judge for the western district 
     of Texas; and
       (12) 1 additional district judge for the western district 
     of Washington.
       (b) Temporary Judgeships.--The President shall appoint, by 
     and with the advice and consent of the Senate--
       (1) 1 additional district judge for the district of 
     Arizona;
       (2) 1 additional district judge for the central district of 
     California;
       (3) 1 additional district judge for the northern district 
     of California;
       (4) 1 additional district judge for the district of Idaho; 
     and
       (5) 1 additional district judge for the district of New 
     Mexico.
     For each of the judicial districts named in this subsection, 
     the first vacancy arising on the district court 10 years or 
     more after a judge is first confirmed to fill the temporary 
     district judgeship created in that district by this 
     subsection shall not be filled.
       (c) Existing Judgeships.--The existing judgeships for the 
     district of Arizona and the district of New Mexico authorized 
     by section 312(c) of the 21st Century Department of Justice 
     Appropriations Authorization Act (Public Law 107-273, 116 
     Stat. 1758), as of the effective date of this Act, shall be 
     authorized under section 133 of title 28, United States Code, 
     and the incumbents in those offices shall hold the office 
     under section 133 of title 28, United States Code, as amended 
     by this Act.
       (d) Tables.--In order that the table contained in section 
     133 of title 28, United States Code, will, with respect to 
     each judicial district, reflect the changes in the total 
     number of permanent district judgeships authorized as a 
     result of subsections (a) and (c), such table is amended to 
     read as follows:


 
                         ``Districts                             Judges
 
Alabama:
  Northern...................................................          7
  Middle.....................................................          3
  Southern...................................................          3
Alaska.......................................................          3
Arizona......................................................         17
Arkansas:
  Eastern....................................................          5
  Western....................................................          3
California:
  Northern...................................................         16
  Eastern....................................................         10
  Central....................................................         31
  Southern...................................................         13
Colorado.....................................................          7
Connecticut..................................................          8
Delaware.....................................................          4
District of Columbia.........................................         15
Florida:
  Northern...................................................          4
  Middle.....................................................         15
  Southern...................................................         17
Georgia:
  Northern...................................................         11
  Middle.....................................................          4
  Southern...................................................          3
Hawaii.......................................................          3
Idaho........................................................          2
Illinois:
  Northern...................................................         22
  Central....................................................          4
  Southern...................................................          4
Indiana:
  Northern...................................................          5
  Southern...................................................          5
Iowa:
  Northern...................................................          2
  Southern...................................................          3
Kansas.......................................................          5
Kentucky:
  Eastern....................................................          5
  Western....................................................          4
  Eastern and Western........................................          1
Louisiana:
  Eastern....................................................         12
  Middle.....................................................          3
  Western....................................................          7
Maine........................................................          3
Maryland.....................................................         10
Massachusetts................................................         13
Michigan:
  Eastern....................................................         15
  Western....................................................          4
Minnesota....................................................          8
Mississippi:
  Northern...................................................          3
  Southern...................................................          6
Missouri:
  Eastern....................................................          6
  Western....................................................          5
  Eastern and Western........................................          2
Montana......................................................          3
Nebraska.....................................................          3
Nevada.......................................................          7
New Hampshire................................................          3
New Jersey...................................................         17
New Mexico...................................................          8
New York:
  Northern...................................................          5
  Southern...................................................         28
  Eastern....................................................         18
  Western....................................................          5
North Carolina:
  Eastern....................................................          4
  Middle.....................................................          4
  Western....................................................          3
North Dakota.................................................          2
Ohio:
  Northern...................................................         11
  Southern...................................................          8
Oklahoma:
  Northern...................................................          3
  Eastern....................................................          1
  Western....................................................          6
  Northern, Eastern, and Western.............................          1
Oregon.......................................................          6
Pennsylvania:
  Eastern....................................................         22
  Middle.....................................................          6
  Western....................................................         10
Puerto Rico..................................................          7
Rhode Island.................................................          3
South Carolina...............................................         10
South Dakota.................................................          3
Tennessee:
  Eastern....................................................          5
  Middle.....................................................          4
  Western....................................................          5
Texas:
  Northern...................................................         12
  Southern...................................................         21
  Eastern....................................................          8
  Western....................................................         14
Utah.........................................................          5
Vermont......................................................          2
Virginia:
  Eastern....................................................         11
  Western....................................................          4
Washington:
  Eastern....................................................          4
  Western....................................................          8
West Virginia:
  Northern...................................................          3
  Southern...................................................          5
Wisconsin:
  Eastern....................................................          5
  Western....................................................          2
Wyoming......................................................       3''.
 

       (e) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized 
     to be appropriated such sums as are necessary to carry out 
     this section, including such sums as are necessary to provide 
     appropriate space and facilities for the judicial positions 
     created by this section.

  SA 1259. Mr. DOMENICI submitted an amendment intended to be proposed 
by him to the bill S. 1348, to provide for comprehensive immigration 
reform and for other purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table; 
as follows:

       At the end of section 128, add the following:
       (5) An evaluation of the positive and negative impacts of 
     privatizing border patrol training, including an evaluation 
     of the impact of privatization on the quality, morale, and 
     consistency of Border Patrol agents.
       (c) Considerations.--In conducting the review under 
     subsection (a), the Comptroller General of the United States 
     shall consider--
       (1) the report by the Government Accountability Office 
     entitled ``Homeland Security: Information on Training New 
     Border Patrol Agents'' and dated March 30, 2007;
       (2) the ability of Federal providers of border patrol 
     training, as compared to private providers of similar 
     training, to incorporate time-sensitive changes based on the 
     needs of an agency or changes in the law;
       (3) the ability of a Federal agency, as compared to a 
     private entity, to defend the Federal agency or private 
     entity, as applicable, from lawsuits involving the nature, 
     quality, and consistency of law enforcement training; and
       (4) whether any other Federal training would be more 
     appropriate and cost efficient for privatization than basic 
     border patrol training.
       (d) Consultation.--In conducting the review under 
     subsection (a), the Comptroller General of the United States 
     shall consult with--
       (1) the Secretary of Homeland Security;
       (2) the Commissioner of the Bureau of Customs and Border 
     Protection; and
       (3) the Director of the Federal Law Enforcement Training 
     Center.
                                 ______
                                 
  SA 1260. Mr. DOMENICI submitted an amendment intended to be proposed 
by him to the bill S. 1348, to provide for comprehensive immigration 
reform and for other purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table; 
as follows:

       In section 122(b)(2), insert ``the Bureau of Land 
     Management,'' before ``the National Park Service''.

[[Page S7008]]

       In section 122(d)(1), insert ``the Bureau of Land 
     Management,'' before ``the National Park Service''.
       In section 122(d)(2), insert ``the Subcommittee on Public 
     Lands and Forests and'' after ``including''.
       In section 122(e)(3), strike ``and''.
       In section 122(e), redesignate paragraph (4) as paragraph 
     (5).
       In section 122(e), after paragraph (3), insert the 
     following:
       (4) Bureau of Land Management Land; and
       At the end of section 122, add the following:
       (f) Addition Personnel.--
       (1) Forest service.--In each of the fiscal years 2008 
     through 2012, the Secretary of Agriculture, subject to the 
     availability of appropriations, shall increase by not less 
     than 50 the number of positions for realty personnel in the 
     Forest Service, for purposes of--
       (A) coordinating the submission to, and review by, the 
     Office of Border Patrol and the Department of Homeland 
     Security of proposals and other environmental documents, 
     including environmental impact statements under the National 
     Environmental Protection Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et 
     seq.); and
       (B) processing realty actions on public land.
       (2) Bureau of land management.--In each of the fiscal years 
     2008 through 2012, the Secretary of Interior, subject to the 
     availability of appropriations, shall increase by not less 
     than 50 the number of positions for realty personnel in the 
     Bureau of Land Management for the purposes described in 
     paragraph (1).
       (3) National park service.--In each of the fiscal years 
     2008 through 2012, the Secretary of Interior, subject to the 
     availability of appropriations, shall increase by not less 
     than 50 the number of positions for realty personnel in the 
     National Park Service for the purposes described in paragraph 
     (1).
                                 ______
                                 
  SA 1261. Mr. DOMENICI submitted an amendment intended to be proposed 
by him to the bill S. 1348, to provide for comprehensive immigration 
reform and for other purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table; 
as follows:

       At the end of title VII, insert the following:

     SEC. 711. STUDY OF RADIO COMMUNICATIONS ALONG THE 
                   INTERNATIONAL BORDER.

       (a) In General.--Not later than 180 days after the date of 
     the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Homeland Security 
     shall conduct a study to determine the areas along the 
     international borders of the United States where Federal and 
     State law enforcement officers are unable to achieve radio 
     communication or where radio communication is inadequate.
       (b) Development of Plan.--Upon conclusion of the study 
     described in subsection (a), the Secretary shall develop a 
     plan for enhancing radio communication capability along the 
     international borders. The plan shall include an estimate of 
     the cost for implementing the plan and recommendations for 
     how Federal, State, and local law enforcement officers can 
     benefit from the plan.
                                 ______
                                 
  SA 1262. Mr. DOMENICI submitted an amendment intended to be proposed 
by him to the bill S. 1348, to provide for comprehensive immigration 
reform and for other purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table; 
as follows:

       In section 125(a)(2)(C), after ``States'' insert the 
     following: ``, including consideration of whether the 
     Department of Homeland Security should use the UAV Systems 
     and Operations Validation Program funded by the Department of 
     Defense to test unmanned aerial vehicle platforms and systems 
     in civil airspace on a routine basis alongside manned 
     aircraft''.

                                 ______
                                 
  SA 1263. Mr. DOMENICI submitted an amendment intended to be proposed 
by him to the bill S. 1348, to provide for comprehensive immigration 
reform and for other purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table; 
as follows:

       At the appropriate place, insert the following:

     SEC. __. COOPERATION WITH THE GOVERNMENT OF MEXICO.

       (a) Cooperation Regarding Border Security.--The Secretary 
     of State, in cooperation with the Secretary and 
     representatives of Federal, State, and local law enforcement 
     agencies that are involved in border security and immigration 
     enforcement efforts, shall work with the appropriate 
     officials from the Government of Mexico to improve 
     coordination between the United States and Mexico regarding--
       (1) improved border security along the international border 
     between the United States and Mexico;
       (2) the reduction of human trafficking and smuggling 
     between the United States and Mexico;
       (3) the reduction of drug trafficking and smuggling between 
     the United States and Mexico;
       (4) the reduction of gang membership in the United States 
     and Mexico;
       (5) the reduction of violence against women in the United 
     States and Mexico; and
       (6) the reduction of other violence and criminal activity.
       (b) Cooperation Regarding Education on Immigration Laws.--
     The Secretary of State, in cooperation with other appropriate 
     Federal officials, shall work with the appropriate officials 
     from the Government of Mexico to carry out activities to 
     educate citizens and nationals of Mexico regarding 
     eligibility for status as a nonimmigrant under Federal law to 
     ensure that the citizens and nationals are not exploited 
     while working in the United States.
       (c) Cooperation Regarding Circular Migration.--The 
     Secretary of State, in cooperation with the Secretary of 
     Labor and other appropriate Federal officials, shall work 
     with the appropriate officials from the Government of Mexico 
     to improve coordination between the United States and Mexico 
     to encourage circular migration, including assisting in the 
     development of economic opportunities and providing job 
     training for citizens and nationals in Mexico.
       (d) Annual Report.--Not later than 180 days after the date 
     of the enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter, the 
     Secretary of State shall submit a report to Congress 
     describing the actions taken by the United States and Mexico 
     under this Act.
                                 ______
                                 
  SA 1264. Mr. DOMENICI submitted an amendment intended to be proposed 
by him to the bill S. 1348, to provide for comprehensive immigration 
reform and for other purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table; 
as follows:

       At the appropriate place, insert the following:

     SEC. __. IMPROVED LAW ENFORCEMENT TRAINING.

       (a) Requirement.--The Secretary, in coordination with the 
     Director of the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center and 
     the Commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection, if 
     appropriate, shall improve and expand the Federal Law 
     Enforcement Training Center in Artesia, New Mexico (referred 
     to in this section as ``FLETC'') and the Border Patrol 
     Academy located at FLETC by--
       (1) authorizing the construction of a detention facility 
     for training purposes;
       (2) developing, not later than 2 years after the date of 
     the enactment of this Act, a plan to improve and expand such 
     Border Patrol Academy, including--
       (A) a plan to develop realistic scenario-based training; 
     and
       (B) an evaluation of new facilities, improvements, 
     equipment, land, and other resources needed to carry out the 
     plan to improve and expand the Border Patrol Academy; and
       (3) developing, not later than 2 years after the date of 
     the enactment of this Act and in consultation with 
     appropriate partner agencies, a plan to expand and improve 
     FLETC, including--
       (A) a plan to develop realistic scenario-based training;
       (B) an evaluation of new facilities, improvements, 
     equipment, land and other resources needed to carry out the 
     plan; and
       (C) an evaluation of the entities that utilize any Federal 
     Law Enforcement Training Center or other State or local law 
     enforcement entities that would be appropriate to utilize 
     FLETC.
       (b) Language Arts Program and Facility.--
       (1) Program expansion.--The Secretary shall expand the 
     language arts program and facility at FLETC to provide 
     training for the Department of Homeland Security personnel 
     and law enforcement officers identified under paragraph (3).
       (2) Training requirement.--
       (A) Homeland security.--The Secretary shall--
       (i) identify any employee of the Department of Homeland 
     Security for whom foreign language education is necessary; 
     and
       (ii) require foreign language education for any employee 
     identified under clause (i).
       (B) Law enforcement.--The head of each executive agency 
     shall--
       (i) identify any law enforcement officer employed by such 
     executive agency for whom foreign language education is 
     necessary; and
       (ii) require foreign language education for any law 
     enforcement officer identified under clause (i).
       (3) Training.--Foreign language education for any 
     individual identified under subparagraph (A)(i) or (B)(i) of 
     paragraph (2) shall be provided through the language arts 
     program and facility at FLETC.
       (c) Definitions.--In this section--
       (1) the term ``executive agency'' has the same meaning as 
     in section 105 of title 5, United States Code, except that 
     the term does not include the Department of Defense or the 
     Department of State;
       (2) the term ``law enforcement officer'' has the same 
     meaning as in section 8331 of title 5, United States Code; 
     and
       (3) the term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary of Homeland 
     Security.
       (d) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized 
     to be appropriated such sums as may be necessary to carry out 
     this section.
                                 ______
                                 
  SA 1265. Mr. DOMENICI (for himself and Mr. Bingaman) submitted an 
amendment intended to be proposed by him to the bill S. 1348, to 
provide for comprehensive immigration reform and for other purposes; 
which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows:

       At the appropriate place, insert the following:

[[Page S7009]]

     SEC. __. TRAVEL PRIVILEGES FOR CERTAIN TEMPORARY VISITORS 
                   FROM MEXICO.

       (a) In General.--Except as provided in subsection (b), the 
     Secretary shall permit a national of Mexico to travel up to 
     100 miles from the international border between Mexico and 
     the State of New Mexico if such national--
       (1) possesses a valid machine-readable biometric border 
     crossing identification card issued by a consular officer of 
     the Department of State;
       (2) enters the State of New Mexico through a port of entry 
     where such card is processed using a machine reader;
       (3) has successfully completed any background check 
     required by the Secretary for such travel; and
       (4) is admitted into the United States as a nonimmigrant 
     under section 101(a)(15)(B) of the Immigration and 
     Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1101(a)(15)(B)).
       (b) Exception.--On a case-by-case basis, the Secretary may 
     limit the travel of a national of Mexico who meets the 
     requirements of paragraphs (1) through (4) of subsection (a) 
     to a distance of less than 100 miles from the international 
     border between Mexico and the State of New Mexico if the 
     Secretary determines that the national was previously 
     admitted into the United States as a nonimmigrant and 
     violated the terms and conditions of the national's 
     nonimmigrant status.
                                 ______
                                 
  SA 1266. Mr. ALEXANDER submitted an amendment intended to be proposed 
by him to the bill S. 1348, to provide for comprehensive immigration 
reform and for other purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table; 
as follows:

       In section 709 of the bill redesignate subsection (b) as 
     subsection (c), and insert the following:
       (b) Assessment Tools.--The Director of the United States 
     Citizenship and Immigration Services, in consultation with 
     the Secretary of Education, shall develop valid and reliable 
     assessment tools to measure the progress of individuals--
       (1) in the acquisition of the English language under 
     subsection (a); and
       (2) in meeting any other English language requirements in 
     this Act.
                                 ______
                                 
  SA 1267. Mr. BINGAMAN (for himself and Mr. Obama) submitted an 
amendment intended to be proposed by him to the bill S. 1348, to 
provide for comprehensive immigration reform and for other purposes; 
which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows:

       Section 218A(i) of the Immigration and Nationality Act, as 
     added by section 402, is amended to read as follows:
       ``(i) Period of Authorized Admission.--
       ``(1) In general.--Aliens admitted to the United States as 
     Y nonimmigrants shall be granted the following periods of 
     admission:
       ``(A) Y-1 nonimmigrants.--An alien granted admission as a 
     Y-1 nonimmigrant shall be granted an authorized period of 
     admission of 2 years. Such 2-year period of admission may be 
     extended for 2 additional 2-year periods.
       ``(B) Y-2 nonimmigrants.--Aliens granted admission as Y-2 
     nonimmigrants shall be granted an authorized period of 
     admission of 10 months.
       ``(2) Y-1 nonimmigrants with y-3 dependents.--A Y-1 
     nonimmigrant who has accompanying or following-to-join 
     derivative family members in Y-3 nonimmigrant status shall be 
     limited to two 2-year periods of admission. If the family 
     members accompany the Y-1 nonimmigrant during the alien's 
     first period of admission the family members may not 
     accompany or join the Y-1 nonimmigrant during the alien's 
     second period of admission. If the Y-1 nonimmigrant's family 
     members accompany or follow to join the Y-1 nonimmigrant 
     during the alien's second period of admission, but not his 
     first period of admission, then the Y-1 nonimmigrant shall 
     not be granted any additional periods of admission in Y 
     nonimmigrant status. The period of authorized admission of a 
     Y-3 nonimmigrant shall expire on the same date as the period 
     of authorized admission of the principal Y-1 nonimmigrant 
     worker.
       ``(3) Supplementary periods.--Each period of authorized 
     admission described in paragraph (1) shall be supplemented by 
     a period of not more than 1 week before the beginning of the 
     period of employment for the purpose of travel to the 
     worksite and, except where such period of authorized 
     admission has been terminated under subsection (j), a period 
     of 14 days following the period of employment for the purpose 
     of departure or extension based on a subsequent offer of 
     employment, except that--
       ``(A) the alien is not authorized to be employed during 
     such 14-day period except in the employment for which the 
     alien was previously authorized; and
       ``(B) the total period of employment, including such 14-day 
     period, may not exceed the maximum applicable period of 
     admission under paragraph (1).
       ``(4) Limitation on admissions.--
       ``(A) Y-1 nonimmigrants.--An alien who has been admitted to 
     the United States in Y-1 nonimmigrant status for a period of 
     2 years under paragraph (1), or as the Y-3 nonimmigrant 
     spouse or child of such a Y-1 nonimmigrant, may not be 
     readmitted to the United States as a Y-1 or Y-3 nonimmigrant 
     after expiration of such period of authorized admission, 
     regardless of whether the alien was employed or present in 
     the United States for all or a part of such period.
       ``(B) Y-2 nonimmigrants.--An alien who has been admitted to 
     the United States in Y-2 nonimmigrant status may not, after 
     expiration of the alien's period of authorized admission, be 
     readmitted to the United States as a Y-2 nonimmigrant after 
     expiration of the alien's period of authorized admission, 
     regardless of whether the alien was employed or present in 
     the United States for all or only a part of such period, 
     unless the alien has resided and been physically present 
     outside the United States for the immediately preceding 2 
     months.
       ``(C) Readmission with new employment.--Nothing in this 
     paragraph shall be construed to prevent a Y nonimmigrant, 
     whose period of authorized admission has not yet expired or 
     been terminated under subsection (j), and who leaves the 
     United States in a timely fashion after completion of the 
     employment described in the petition of the Y nonimmigrant's 
     most recent employer, from reentering the United States as a 
     Y nonimmigrant to work for a new employer, if the alien and 
     the new employer have complied with all applicable 
     requirements of this section and section 218B.
       ``(5) International commuters.--An alien who maintains 
     actual residence and a place of abode outside the United 
     States and commutes, on days the alien is working, into the 
     United States to work as a Y-1 nonimmigrant, shall be granted 
     an authorized period of admission of 3 years. The limitations 
     described in paragraph (3) shall not apply to commuters 
     described in this paragraph.''.
                                 ______
                                 
  SA 1268. Mr. BINGAMAN submitted an amendment intended to be proposed 
by him to the bill S. 1348, to provide for comprehensive immigration 
reform and for other purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table; 
as follows:

       On page 224, in the handwritten matter, strike ``(9)(A)'' 
     and insert ``(10)(A)''.
       On page 225, strike ``such limitation'' and insert ``the 
     limitations under clauses (i) and (ii) of paragraph (1)(D)''.
                                 ______
                                 
  SA 1269. Mr. BINGAMAN submitted an amendment intended to be proposed 
by him to the bill S. 1348, to provide for comprehensive immigration 
reform and for other purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table; 
as follows:

       In section 602(a), strike paragraph (6) and insert the 
     following:
       (6) Clarification that newly legalized aliens shall be 
     considered ``not qualified'' aliens for purposes of federal 
     public benefits.--
       (A) In general.--The restrictions on Federal public 
     benefits for ``not qualified'' immigrants under section 401 
     of Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity 
     Reconciliation Act of 1996 (8 U.S.C. 1611)and on Federal 
     means-tested public benefits under sections 402 and 403 of 
     such Act (8 U.S.C. 1612 and 1613) shall apply to an alien 
     whose status has been adjusted under this section--
       (i) for a period of 5 years beginning on the date the 
     individual obtains legal status under this section; and
       (ii) until the individual adjusts to lawful permanent 
     resident status.
       (B) Qualified immigrant.--After both conditions are met 
     under subparagraph (A), an individual described in such 
     subparagraph shall be treated in the same manner as other 
     ``qualified'' immigrants who have met the 5-year period of 
     ineligibility under title IV of the Personal Responsibility 
     and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 (8 U.S.C. 
     1611 et seq.).
                                 ______
                                 
  SA 1270. Mr. BINGAMAN submitted an amendment intended to be proposed 
by him to the bill S. 1348, to provide for comprehensive immigration 
reform and for other purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table; 
as follows:

       At the appropriate place, insert the following:

                      TITLE __--U.S. BORDER HEALTH

     SEC. _01. SHORT TITLE.

       This title may be cited as the ``Border Health Security Act 
     of 2007''.

     SEC. _02. DEFINITIONS.

       In this title:
       (1) Border area.--The term ``border area'' has the meaning 
     given the term ``United States-Mexico Border Area'' in 
     section 8 of the United States-Mexico Border Health 
     Commission Act (22 U.S.C. 290n-6).
       (2) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
     of Health and Human Services.

     SEC. _03. BORDER HEALTH GRANTS.

       (a) Eligible Entity Defined.--In this section, the term 
     ``eligible entity'' means a State, public institution of 
     higher education, local government, tribal government, 
     nonprofit health organization, trauma center, or community 
     health center receiving assistance under section 330 of the 
     Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 254b), that is located 
     in the border area.
       (b) Authorization.--From funds appropriated under 
     subsection (f), the Secretary, acting through the United 
     States members of the United States-Mexico Border Health 
     Commission, shall award grants to eligible entities to 
     address priorities and recommendations to improve the health 
     of border area residents that are established by--

[[Page S7010]]

       (1) the United States members of the United States-Mexico 
     Border Health Commission;
       (2) the State border health offices; and
       (3) the Secretary.
       (c) Application.--An eligible entity that desires a grant 
     under subsection (b) shall submit an application to the 
     Secretary at such time, in such manner, and containing such 
     information as the Secretary may require.
       (d) Use of Funds.--An eligible entity that receives a grant 
     under subsection (b) shall use the grant funds for--
       (1) programs relating to--
       (A) maternal and child health;
       (B) primary care and preventative health;
       (C) public health and public health infrastructure;
       (D) health promotion;
       (E) oral health;
       (F) behavioral and mental health;
       (G) substance abuse;
       (H) health conditions that have a high prevalence in the 
     border area;
       (I) medical and health services research;
       (J) workforce training and development;
       (K) community health workers or promotoras;
       (L) health care infrastructure problems in the border area 
     (including planning and construction grants);
       (M) health disparities in the border area;
       (N) environmental health;
       (O) health education;
       (P) outreach and enrollment services with respect to 
     Federal programs (including programs authorized under titles 
     XIX and XXI of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1396 and 
     1397aa));
       (Q) trauma care;
       (R) infectious disease testing and monitoring;
       (S) health research with an emphasis on infectious disease; 
     and
       (T) cross-border health surveillance; and
       (2) other programs determined appropriate by the Secretary.
       (e) Supplement, Not Supplant.--Amounts provided to an 
     eligible entity awarded a grant under subsection (b) shall be 
     used to supplement and not supplant other funds available to 
     the eligible entity to carry out the activities described in 
     subsection (d).
       (f) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized 
     to be appropriated to carry out this section such sums as may 
     be necessary for fiscal year 2008 and each succeeding fiscal 
     year.

     SEC. _04. GRANTS FOR ALL HAZARDS PREPAREDNESS IN THE BORDER 
                   AREA INCLUDING BIOTERRORISM AND INFECTIOUS 
                   DISEASE.

       (a) Eligible Entity Defined.--In this section, the term 
     ``eligible entity'' means a State, local government, tribal 
     government, trauma centers, regional trauma center 
     coordinating entity, or public health entity.
       (b) Authorization.--From funds appropriated under 
     subsection (e), the Secretary shall award grants to eligible 
     entities for all hazards preparedness in the border area 
     including bioterrorism and infectious disease.
       (c) Application.--An eligible entity that desires a grant 
     under this section shall submit an application to the 
     Secretary at such time, in such manner, and containing such 
     information as the Secretary may require.
       (d) Uses of Funds.--An eligible entity that receives a 
     grant under subsection (b) shall use the grant funds to, in 
     coordination with State and local all hazards programs--
       (1) develop and implement all hazards preparedness plans 
     and readiness assessments and purchase items necessary for 
     such plans;
       (2) coordinate all hazard and emergency preparedness 
     planning in the region;
       (3) improve infrastructure, including surge capacity 
     syndromic surveillance, laboratory capacity, and isolation/
     decontamination capacity;
       (4) create a health alert network, including risk 
     communication and information dissemination;
       (5) educate and train clinicians, epidemiologists, 
     laboratories, and emergency personnel;
       (6) implement electronic data systems to coordinate the 
     triage, transportation, and treatment of multi-casualty 
     incident victims;
       (7) provide infectious disease testing in the border area; 
     and
       (8) carry out such other activities identified by the 
     Secretary, the United States-Mexico Border Health Commission, 
     State and local public health offices, and border health 
     offices.
       (e) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized 
     to be appropriated to carry out this section $25,000,000 for 
     fiscal year 2008 and such sums as may be necessary for each 
     succeeding fiscal year.

     SEC. _05. UNITED STATES-MEXICO BORDER HEALTH COMMISSION ACT 
                   AMENDMENTS.

       The United States-Mexico Border Health Commission Act (22 
     U.S.C. 290n et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the 
     following:

     ``SEC. 9. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

       ``There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this 
     Act $10,000,000 for fiscal year 2008 and such sums as may be 
     necessary for each succeeding fiscal year.''.

     SEC. _06. COORDINATION OF HEALTH SERVICES AND SURVEILLANCE.

       The Secretary may coordinate with the Secretary of Homeland 
     Security in establishing a health alert system that--
       (1) alerts clinicians and public health officials of 
     emerging disease clusters and syndromes along the border 
     area; and
       (2) is alerted to signs of health threats, disasters of 
     mass scale, or bioterrorism along the border area.

     SEC. _07. BINATIONAL HEALTH INFRASTRUCTURE AND HEALTH 
                   INSURANCE.

       (a) In General.--The Secretary of Health and Human Services 
     shall enter into a contract with the Institute of Medicine 
     for the conduct of a study concerning binational health 
     infrastructure (including trauma and emergency care) and 
     health insurance efforts. In conducting such study, the 
     Institute shall solicit input from border health experts and 
     health insurance issuers.
       (b) Report.--Not later than 1 year after the date on which 
     the Secretary of Health and Human Services enters into the 
     contract under subsection (a), the Institute of Medicine 
     shall submit to the Secretary and the appropriate committees 
     of Congress a report concerning the study conducted under 
     such contract. Such report shall include the recommendations 
     of the Institute on ways to expand or improve binational 
     health infrastructure and health insurance efforts.

     SEC. _08. PROVISION OF RECOMMENDATIONS AND ADVICE TO 
                   CONGRESS.

       Section 5 of the United States-Mexico Border Health 
     Commission Act (22 U.S.C. 290n-3) is amended by adding at the 
     end the following:
       ``(d) Providing Advice and Recommendations to Congress.--A 
     member of the Commission, or an individual who is on the 
     staff of the Commission, may at any time provide advice or 
     recommendations to Congress concerning issues that are 
     considered by the Commission. Such advice or recommendations 
     may be provided whether or not a request for such is made by 
     a member of Congress and regardless of whether the member or 
     individual is authorized to provide such advice or 
     recommendations by the Commission or any other Federal 
     official.''.
                                 ______
                                 
  SA 1271. Mr. CONRAD submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by 
him to the bill S. 1348, to provide for comprehensive immigration 
reform and for other purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table; 
as follows:

       In section 425(h), strike paragraph (3).
                                 ______
                                 
  SA 1272. Mr. SCHUMER submitted an amendment intended to be proposed 
by him to the bill S. 1348, to provide for comprehensive immigration 
reform and for other purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table; 
as follows:

       At the appropriate place, insert the following:

     SEC. __. B-1 VISITOR VISA GUIDELINES AND DATA TRACKING 
                   SYSTEMS.

       (a) Guidelines.--
       (1) In general.--Not later than 6 months after the date of 
     enactment of this Act--
       (A) the Secretary of State shall review existing 
     regulations or internal guidelines relating to the 
     decisionmaking process with respect to the issuance of B-1 
     visas by consular officers and determine whether 
     modifications are necessary to ensure that such officers make 
     decisions with respect to the issuance of B-1 visas as 
     consistently as possible while ensuring security and 
     maintaining officer discretion over such issuance 
     determinations; and
       (B) the Secretary of Homeland Security shall review 
     existing regulations or internal guidelines relating to the 
     decisionmaking process of Customs and Border Protection 
     officers concerning whether travelers holding a B-1 visitor 
     visa are admissible to the United States and the appropriate 
     length of stay and shall determine whether modifications are 
     necessary to ensure that such officers make decisions with 
     respect to travelers admissibility and length of stay as 
     consistently as possible while ensuring security and 
     maintaining officer discretion over such determinations.
       (2) Modification.--If after conducting the reviews under 
     paragraph (1), the Secretary of State or the Secretary of 
     Homeland Security determine that modifications to existing 
     regulations or internal guidelines, or the establishment of 
     new regulations or guidelines, are necessary, the relevant 
     Secretary shall make such modifications during the 6-month 
     period referred to in such paragraph.
       (3) Consultations.--In making determinations and preparing 
     guidelines under paragraph (1), the Secretary of State and 
     the Secretary of Homeland Security shall consult with 
     appropriate stakeholders, including consular officials and 
     immigration inspectors.
       (b) Data Tracking Systems.--
       (1) In general.--Not later than 18 months after the date of 
     enactment of this Act--
       (A) the Secretary of State shall develop and implement a 
     system to track aggregate data relating to the issuance of B-
     1 visitor visas in order to ensure the consistent application 
     of the guidelines established under subsection (a)(1)(A); and
       (B) the Secretary of Homeland Security shall develop and 
     implement a system to track aggregate data relating to 
     admissibility decision, and length of stays under, B-1 
     visitor visas in order to ensure the consistent application 
     of the guidelines established under subsection (a)(1)(B).
       (2) Limitation.--The systems implemented under paragraph 
     (1) shall not store or track personally identifiable 
     information, except that this paragraph shall not be 
     construed to limit the application of any other system that 
     is being implemented by the Department of State or the 
     Department of Homeland Security to track travelers or travel 
     to the United States.

[[Page S7011]]

       (c) Public Education.--The Secretary of State and the 
     Secretary of Homeland Security shall carry out activities to 
     provide guidance and education to the public and to visa 
     applicants concerning the nature, purposes, and availability 
     of the B-1 visa for business travelers.
       (d) Report.--Not later than 6 and 18 months after the date 
     of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State and the 
     Secretary of Homeland Security shall submit to Congress, 
     reports concerning the status of the implementation of this 
     section.
                                 ______
                                 
  SA 1273. Mr. SCHUMER submitted an amendment intended to be proposed 
by him to the bill S. 1348, to provide for comprehensive immigration 
reform and for other purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table; 
as follows:

       In title V of the bill, strike section 505.
                                 ______
                                 
  SA 1274. Mr. SCHUMER submitted an amendment intended to be proposed 
by him to the bill S. 1348, to provide for comprehensive immigration 
reform and for other purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table; 
as follows:

       On page 112, line 31, strike ``The Secretary shall perform 
     regular audits'' and insert ``Not later than 6 months after 
     the date of the enactment of this section and annually 
     thereafter, the Secretary shall conduct an audit''.
                                 ______
                                 
  SA 1275. Mrs. BOXER submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by 
her to the bill S. 1348, to provide for comprehensive immigration 
reform and for other purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table; 
as follows:

       At the end of title IV, insert the following:

     SEC. 427. REPORT ON THE Y NONIMMIGRANT VISA PROGRAM.

       (a) In General.--Not later than 2 years and 2 months after 
     the date on which the Secretary of Homeland Security makes 
     the certification described in section 1(a) of this Act, and 
     every year thereafter, the Secretary shall report to Congress 
     on the number of Y nonimmigrant visa holders that return to 
     their foreign residence, as required under section 218A(j)(3) 
     of the Immigration and Nationality Act, as added by section 
     402 of this Act.
       (b) Termination of Y Nonimmigrant Visa Program.--
       (1) In general.--Notwithstanding any other provision of law 
     or of this Act, if in any year the Secretary of Homeland 
     Security reports to the Congress under subsection (a) that 20 
     percent or more of Y nonimmigrant visa holders do not comply 
     with the return requirement under section 218A(j)(3) of the 
     Immigration and Nationality Act, then--
       (A) for the following calendar year, no new Y nonimmigrant 
     visas shall be issued; and
       (B) for such calendar year, section 218A of the Immigration 
     and Nationality Act shall have no force or effect, except 
     with respect to those Y immigrant visa holders described 
     under paragraph (2).
       (2) Compliant y nonimmigrant visa holders.--An existing Y 
     nonimmigrant visa holder who is found to have been in 
     compliance with the return requirement under section 
     218A(j)(3) of the Immigration and Nationality Act, at the 
     beginning of any calendar year in which no new Y nonimmigrant 
     visas are issued in accordance with paragraph (1), shall be 
     allowed to continue in the Y visa program if the period of 
     authorized admission of such visa holder has not expired.
                                 ______
                                 
  SA 1276. Mrs. BOXER submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by 
her to the bill S. 1348, to provide for comprehensive immigration 
reform and for other purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table; 
as follows:

       On page 223, line 11, strike ``not exceed--'' and all that 
     follows through line 21, and insert the following: ``not 
     exceed 100,000 for any fiscal year; or'' .
                                 ______
                                 
  SA 1277. Mr. KENNEDY submitted an amendment intended to be proposed 
by him to the bill S. 1348, to provide for comprehensive immigration 
reform and for other purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table; 
as follows:

       On page 48, between lines 10 and 11, insert the following:

     SEC. 204. PRECLUDING ADMISSIBILITY OF ALIENS CONVICTED OF 
                   SERIOUS CRIMINAL OFFENSES.

       (a) Inadmissibility on Criminal and Related Grounds.--
     Section 212(a)(2) (8 U.S.C. 1182(a)(2)) is amended by adding 
     at the end the following:
       ``(J) Crimes involving firearms.--Any alien who has been 
     convicted of--
       ``(i) a crime involving the purchasing, selling, offering 
     for sale, exchanging, using, owning, possessing, or carrying, 
     or of attempting or conspiring to purchase, sell, offer for 
     sale, exchange, use, own, possess, or carry, any weapon, 
     part, or accessory which is a firearm or destructive device 
     (as defined in section 921(a) of title 18, United States 
     Code), for which the alien was sentenced to a term of 
     imprisonment of more than 1 year; or
       ``(ii) a violation of section 2250 of title 18, United 
     States Code (relating to failure to register as a sex 
     offender),
     is inadmissible.
       ``(K) Crimes of domestic violence, stalking, or violation 
     of protective orders; crimes against children.--
       ``(i) Domestic violence, stalking, and child abuse.--Any 
     alien who has been convicted of a crime of domestic violence, 
     a crime of stalking, or a crime of child abuse, child 
     neglect, or child abandonment, for which the alien was 
     imprisoned for more than 1 year, is inadmissible. In this 
     clause, the term `crime of domestic violence' means any crime 
     of violence (as defined in section 16 of title 18, United 
     States Code) against a person committed by a current or 
     former spouse of the person, by an individual with whom the 
     person shares a child in common, by an individual who is 
     cohabiting with or has cohabited with the person as a spouse, 
     by an individual similarly situated to a spouse of the person 
     under the domestic or family violence laws of the 
     jurisdiction where the offense occurs, or by any other 
     individual against a person who is protected from that 
     individual's acts under the domestic or family violence laws 
     of the United States or any State, Indian tribal government, 
     or unit of local or foreign government.
       ``(ii) Violators of protection orders.--Any alien who at 
     any time is enjoined under a protection order issued by a 
     court and whom the court determines has engaged in conduct 
     that constitutes criminal contempt of the portion of a 
     protection order that involves protection against credible 
     threats of violence, repeated harassment, or bodily injury to 
     the person or persons for whom the protection order was 
     issued, and has been imprisoned for more than 1 year for such 
     offenses, is inadmissible. In this clause, the term 
     `protection order' means any injunction issued for the 
     purpose of preventing violent or threatening acts of domestic 
     violence, including temporary or final orders issued by civil 
     or criminal courts (other than support or child custody 
     orders or provisions) whether obtained by filing an 
     independent action or as an independent order in another 
     proceeding.
       ``(iii) Applicability.--This subparagraph shall not apply 
     to an alien who has been battered or subjected to extreme 
     cruelty and who is not and was not the primary perpetrator of 
     violence in the relationship, upon a determination by the 
     Attorney General or the Secretary of Homeland Security that--

       ``(I) the alien was acting in self-defense;
       ``(II) the alien was found to have violated a protection 
     order intended to protect the alien; or
       ``(III) the alien committed, was arrested for, was 
     convicted of, or pled guilty to committing a crime that did 
     not result in serious bodily injury.''.

       (b) Waivers.--Section 212(h) (8 U.S.C. 1182(h)) is 
     amended--
       (1) by inserting ``or the Secretary of Homeland Security'' 
     after ``the Attorney General'' each place it appears; and
       (2) by striking ``The Attorney General may, in his 
     discretion, waive the application of subparagraphs (A)(i)(I), 
     (B), (D), and (E) of subsection (a)(2)'' and inserting ``The 
     Attorney General or the Secretary of Homeland Security may 
     waive the application of subparagraphs (A)(i)(I), 
     (A)(i)(III), (B), (D), (E), (F), (J), and (K) of subsection 
     (a)(2)''.
       (c) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section 
     shall apply to any conviction that occurs on or after the 
     date of the enactment of this Act.
       On page 48, line 36, insert ``(including a violation of 
     subsection (c) or (h) of section 924 of title 18, United 
     States Code)'' after ``explosives.''.
       On page 83, after line 22, add the following:

     SEC. 229. INCREASED CRIMINAL PENALTIES RELATED TO DRUNK 
                   DRIVING.

       (a) Inadmissibility.--Section 212(a)(2) (8 U.S.C. 
     1182(a)(2)), as amended by section 204, is further amended--
       (1) by redesignating subparagraph (F) as subparagraph (L); 
     and
       (2) by inserting after subparagraph (E) the following:
       ``(F) Drunk drivers.--Any alien who has been convicted of 3 
     offenses for driving under the influence is inadmissible if 
     at least 1 of the offenses is a felony under Federal or State 
     law, for which the alien served more than 1 year in 
     prison.''.
       (b) Deportability.--Section 237(a)(2) (8 U.S.C. 1227(a)(2)) 
     is amended by adding at the end the following:
       ``(F) Drunk drivers.--Unless the Secretary of Homeland 
     Security or the Attorney General waives the application of 
     this subparagraph, any alien who has been convicted of 3 
     offenses for driving under the influence is deportable if 
     more than 1 of the offenses is a felony under Federal or 
     State law, for which the alien served more than 1 year in 
     prison.''.
       (c) Conforming Amendment.--Section 212(h) (8 U.S.C. 
     1182(h)) is amended, in the matter preceding paragraph (1), 
     by striking ``and (E)'' and inserting ``(E), and (F)''.
       (d) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section 
     shall take effect on the date of the enactment of this Act 
     and shall apply to convictions entered on or after such date.
                                 ______
                                 
  SA 1278. Mr. KOHL submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by 
him to the bill S. 1348, to provide for comprehensive immigration 
reform and for other purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table; 
as follows:

       At the appropriate place, insert the following:

[[Page S7012]]

     SECTION __. STATE COURT INTERPRETER GRANT PROGRAM.

       (a) Short Title.--This section may be cited as the ``State 
     Court Interpreter Grant Program Act''.
       (b) Findings.--Congress finds that--
       (1) the fair administration of justice depends on the 
     ability of all participants in a courtroom proceeding to 
     understand that proceeding, regardless of their English 
     proficiency;
       (2) 19 percent of the population of the United States over 
     5 years of age speaks a language other than English at home;
       (3) only qualified court interpreters can ensure that 
     persons with limited English proficiency comprehend judicial 
     proceedings in which they are a party;
       (4) the knowledge and skills required of a qualified court 
     interpreter differ substantially from those required in other 
     interpretation settings, such as social service, medical, 
     diplomatic, and conference interpreting;
       (5) the Federal Government has demonstrated its commitment 
     to equal administration of justice regardless of English 
     proficiency;
       (6) regulations implementing title VI of the Civil Rights 
     Act of 1964, as well as the guidance issued by the Department 
     of Justice pursuant to Executive Order 13166, issued August 
     11, 2000, clarify that all recipients of Federal financial 
     assistance, including State courts, are required to take 
     reasonable steps to provide meaningful access to their 
     proceedings for persons with limited English proficiency;
       (7) 36 States have developed, or are developing, qualified 
     court interpreting programs;
       (8) robust, effective court interpreter programs--
       (A) actively recruit skilled individuals to be court 
     interpreters;
       (B) train those individuals in the interpretation of court 
     proceedings;
       (C) develop and use a thorough, systematic certification 
     process for court interpreters; and
       (D) have sufficient funding to ensure that a qualified 
     interpreter will be available to the court whenever 
     necessary; and
       (9) Federal funding is necessary to--
       (A) encourage State courts that do not have court 
     interpreter programs to develop them;
       (B) assist State courts with nascent court interpreter 
     programs to implement them;
       (C) assist State courts with limited court interpreter 
     programs to enhance them; and
       (D) assist State courts with robust court interpreter 
     programs to make further improvements and share successful 
     programs with other States.
       (c) State Court Interpreter Program.--
       (1) Grants authorized.--
       (A) In general.--The Administrator of the Office of Justice 
     Programs of the Department of Justice (referred to in this 
     subsection as the ``Administrator'') shall award grants, in 
     accordance with such regulations as the Attorney General may 
     prescribe, to State courts to develop and implement programs 
     to assist individuals with limited English proficiency to 
     access and understand State court proceedings in which they 
     are a party.
       (B) Technical assistance.--The Administrator shall 
     allocate, for each fiscal year, $500,000 of the amount 
     appropriated pursuant to subsection (d) to be used to 
     establish a court interpreter technical assistance program to 
     assist State courts receiving grants under this subsection.
       (2) Use of grants.--Grants awarded under paragraph (1) may 
     be used by State courts to--
       (A) assess regional language demands;
       (B) develop a court interpreter program for the State 
     courts;
       (C) develop, institute, and administer language 
     certification examinations;
       (D) recruit, train, and certify qualified court 
     interpreters;
       (E) pay for salaries, transportation, and technology 
     necessary to implement the court interpreter program 
     developed under subparagraph (B); and
       (F) engage in other related activities, as prescribed by 
     the Attorney General.
       (3) Application.--
       (A) In general.--The highest State court of each State 
     desiring a grant under this subsection shall submit an 
     application to the Administrator at such time, in such 
     manner, and accompanied by such information as the 
     Administrator may reasonably require.
       (B) State courts.--The highest State court of each State 
     submitting an application under subparagraph (A) shall 
     include in the application--
       (i) an identification of each State court in that State 
     which would receive funds from the grant;
       (ii) the amount of funds each State court identified under 
     clause (i) would receive from the grant; and
       (iii) the procedures the highest State court would use to 
     directly distribute grant funds to State courts identified 
     under clause (i).
       (4) State court allotments.--
       (A) Base allotment.--From amounts appropriated for each 
     fiscal year pursuant to subsection (d), the Administrator 
     shall allocate $100,000 to each of the highest State court of 
     each State, which has an application approved under paragraph 
     (3).
       (B) Discretionary allotment.--From amounts appropriated for 
     each fiscal year pursuant to subsection (d), the 
     Administrator shall allocate a total of $5,000,000 to the 
     highest State court of States that have extraordinary needs 
     that are required to be addressed in order to develop, 
     implement, or expand a State court interpreter program.
       (C) Additional allotment.--In addition to the allocations 
     made under subparagraphs (A) and (B), the Administrator shall 
     allocate to each of the highest State court of each State, 
     which has an application approved under paragraph (3), an 
     amount equal to the product reached by multiplying--
       (i) the unallocated balance of the amount appropriated for 
     each fiscal year pursuant to subsection (d); and
       (ii) the ratio between the number of people over 5 years of 
     age who speak a language other than English at home in the 
     State and the number of people over 5 years of age who speak 
     a language other than English at home in all the States that 
     receive an allocation under subparagraph (A), as those 
     numbers are determined by the Bureau of the Census.
       (D) Treatment of district of columbia.--For purposes of 
     this subsection--
       (i) the District of Columbia shall be treated as a State; 
     and
       (ii) the District of Columbia Court of Appeals shall act as 
     the highest State court for the District of Columbia.
       (d) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized 
     to be appropriated $15,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 
     2008 through 2012 to carry out this section.
                                 ______
                                 
  SA 1279. Mr. REID submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by 
him to the bill S. 1348, to provide for comprehensive immigration 
reform and for other purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table; 
as follows:

       At the end of title VII, add the following:

     SEC. 711. MODEL PORTS-OF-ENTRY.

       (a) In General.--The Secretary of Homeland Security shall--
       (1) establish a model ports-of-entry program for the 
     purpose of providing a more efficient and welcoming 
     international arrival process in order to facilitate and 
     promote business and tourist travel to the United States, 
     while also improving security; and
       (2) implement the program initially at the 20 United States 
     international airports with the highest number of foreign 
     visitors arriving annually, as determined pursuant to the 
     most recent data collected by the United States Customs and 
     Border Protection available on the date of the enactment of 
     this Act.
       (b) Program Elements.--The program shall include--
       (1) enhanced queue management in the Federal Inspection 
     Services area leading up to primary inspection;
       (2) assistance for foreign travelers once they have been 
     admitted to the United States, in consultation, as 
     appropriate, with relevant governmental and nongovernmental 
     entities; and
       (3) instructional videos, in English and such other 
     languages as the Secretary determines appropriate, in the 
     Federal Inspection Services area that explain the United 
     States inspection process and feature national, regional, or 
     local welcome videos.
       (c) Additional Customs and Border Protection Officers for 
     High Volume Ports.--Subject to the availability of 
     appropriations, before the end of fiscal year 2008 the 
     Secretary of Homeland Security shall employ not less than an 
     additional 200 Customs and Border Protection officers to 
     address staff shortages at the 20 United States international 
     airports with the highest number of foreign visitors arriving 
     annually, as determined pursuant to the most recent data 
     collected by the United States Customs and Border Protection 
     available on the date of the enactment of this Act.
                                 ______
                                 
  SA 1280. Mr. LEAHY submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by 
him to the bill S. 1348, to provide for comprehensive immigration 
reform and for other purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table; 
as follows:

       At the appropriate place, insert the following:

     SEC. ___. EB-5 REGIONAL CENTER PROGRAM.

       (a) Authorization.--Section 610(b) of the Departments of 
     Commerce, Justice, and State, the Judiciary, and Related 
     Agencies Appropriations Act, 1993 (8 U.S.C. 1153 note) is 
     amended by striking ``for 15 years''.
       (b) Fees.--
       (1) Premium fees for employment-based petitions and 
     applications.--Section 286(u) (8 U.S.C. 1356(u)) is amended--
       (A) by inserting ``except that the fee for petitions filed 
     under section 203(b)(5) (8 U.S.C. 1153(b)(5)) shall be 
     $2,000. The fee'' after ``$1,000,''; and
       (B) by adding at the end the following: ``Fees collected 
     under this subsection shall be available to the Secretary of 
     Homeland Security solely for the purposes of administration 
     and operation of the immigrant investor regional center pilot 
     program established under section 610 of the Departments of 
     Commerce, Justice, and State, the Judiciary, and Related 
     Agencies Appropriations Act, 1993 (8 U.S.C. 1153 note).''.
       (2) Regulations.--The Secretary of Homeland Security shall 
     promulgate regulations to implement the amendments made by 
     this subsection not later than 120 days after the date of 
     enactment of this Act.
       (c) Concurrent Processing.--Section 245 (8 U.S.C. 1255) is 
     amended by adding at the end the following:
       ``(n) Concurrent Processing for Employment Creation 
     Immigrants.--If, at the time

[[Page S7013]]

     of filing a petition filed for classification under section 
     203(b)(5), approval of the petition would make a visa 
     immediately available to the alien beneficiary, the alien 
     beneficiary's adjustment application under this section shall 
     be considered properly filed, whether submitted concurrently 
     with, or subsequent to, the visa petition.''.
       (d) Application Fees.--
       (1) In general.--Section 610 of the Departments of 
     Commerce, Justice, and State, the Judiciary, and Related 
     Agencies Appropriations Act, 1993 (8 U.S.C. 1153 note) is 
     amended by adding at the end the following:
       ``(e) Designation Fee.--In addition to any other fees 
     authorized by law, the Secretary of Homeland Security shall 
     impose a fee to apply for designation as a regional center 
     under this section. The amount of the fee imposed under this 
     subsection shall be $2,500. Fees collected under this 
     subsection shall be deposited in the General Fund of the 
     Treasury, in accordance with section 286(w) of the 
     Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1356(w)).''.
       (2) Establishment of account; use of fees.--Section 286 (8 
     U.S.C. 1356) is amended by adding at the end the following:
       ``(w) Immigrant Entrepreneur Regional Center Account.--
       ``(1) In general.--There is established in the General Fund 
     of the Treasury a separate account, which shall be known as 
     the `Immigrant Entrepreneur Regional Center Account' (in this 
     subsection referred to as the `account'. Notwithstanding any 
     other provision of law, there shall be deposited as 
     offsetting receipts into the account all fees collected under 
     section 610(b) of the Departments of Commerce, Justice, and 
     State, the Judiciary, and Related Agencies Appropriations 
     Act, 1993 (8 U.S.C. 1153 note).
       ``(2) Use of fees.--Fees collected under this section shall 
     be available to the Secretary of Homeland Security solely for 
     the purposes of administration and operation of the immigrant 
     investor program established under section 610 of the 
     Departments of Commerce, Justice, and State, the Judiciary, 
     and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 1993 (8 U.S.C. 1153 
     note).
       ``(3) Applicability.--This subsection and the fees required 
     by this subsection shall take effect for regional center 
     applications filed after the date on which regulations have 
     been published in final form to implement this subsection.''.
       In section 502(b)(3) (amending section 203(b) of the 
     Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1153(b)), by 
     striking ``, by striking `7.1 percent' and inserting `2,800', 
     and striking `3,000' and inserting `1,500';'' and insering a 
     semicolon.
                                 ______
                                 
  SA 1281. Mrs. McCaskill (for herself and Mr. Dodd) submitted an 
amendment intended to be proposed by her to the bill S. 1348, to 
provide for comprehensive immigration reform and for other purposes; 
which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows:

       On page 123, strike line 5 and all that follows through 
     page 124, line 6, and insert the following:
       ``(1) Employers.--
       ``(A) In general.--Whenever an employer who does not hold 
     Federal contracts, grants, or cooperative agreements is 
     determined by the Secretary to be a repeat violator of this 
     section or is convicted of a crime under this section, the 
     employer shall be subject to debarment from the receipt of 
     Federal contracts, grants, or cooperative agreements for a 
     period of not less than 5 years in accordance with the 
     procedures and standards prescribed by the Federal 
     Acquisition Regulations. The Secretary or the Attorney 
     General shall advise the Administrator of General Services of 
     any such debarment, and the Administrator of General Services 
     shall list the employer on the List of Parties Excluded from 
     Federal Procurement and Nonprocurement Programs for the 
     period of the debarment.
       ``(B) Waiver authority.--After consideration of the views 
     of any agency or department that holds a contract, grant, or 
     cooperative agreement with an employer described under 
     subparagraph (A), the Administrator of General Services, in 
     consultation with the Secretary of Homeland Security and the 
     Attorney General, may waive the debarment or may limit the 
     duration or scope of the debarment under subparagraph (A) if 
     such waiver or limitation is necessary to the national 
     defense or in the interest of national security.
       ``(C) Notification to congress.--If the Administrator of 
     General Services grants a waiver or limitation described 
     under subparagraph (B), the Administrator shall submit notice 
     of such waiver or limitation to each member of the Committee 
     on the Judiciary of the Senate and of the Committee on the 
     Judiciary of the House of Representatives.
       ``(2) Contractors and recipients.--
       ``(A) In general.--Whenever an employer who holds Federal 
     contracts, grants, or cooperative agreements is determined by 
     the Secretary to be a repeat violator of this section or is 
     convicted of a crime under this section, the employer shall 
     be subject to debarment from the receipt of Federal 
     contracts, grants, or cooperative agreements for a period of 
     not less than 5 years in accordance with the procedures and 
     standards prescribed by the Federal Acquisition Regulations. 
     Prior to debarring the employer, the Secretary, in 
     cooperation with the Administrator of General Services, shall 
     advise all agencies holding contracts, grants, or cooperative 
     agreements with the employer of the proceedings to debar the 
     employer from the receipt of new Federal contracts, grants, 
     or cooperative agreements for a period of not less than 5 
     years.
       ``(B) Waiver authority.--After consideration of the views 
     of any agency or department that holds a contract, grant, or 
     cooperative agreement with an employer described under 
     subparagraph (A), the Administrator of General Services, in 
     consultation with the Secretary of Homeland Security and the 
     Attorney General, may waive the debarment or may limit the 
     duration or scope of the debarment under subparagraph (A) if 
     such waiver or limitation is necessary to the national 
     defense or in the interest of national security.
       ``(C) Notification to congress.--If the Administrator of 
     General Services grants a waiver or limitation described 
     under subparagraph (B), the Administrator shall submit notice 
     of such waiver or limitation to each member of the Committee 
     on the Judiciary of the Senate and of the Committee on the 
     Judiciary of the House of Representatives.''.

                          ____________________