[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 154 (Friday, September 26, 2008)]
[Senate]
[Pages S9573-S9574]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  EXTENDING THE SPECIAL IMMIGRANT NONMINISTER RELIGIOUS WORKER PROGRAM

  Mr. REID. I ask unanimous consent the Senate proceed to the immediate 
consideration of S. 3606.
  The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. The clerk will report the bill by 
title.
  The legislative clerk read as follows:

       A bill (S. 3606) to extend the special immigrant 
     nonminister religious worker program and for other purposes.

  There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the bill.
  Mr. REID. I ask unanimous consent the bill be read a third time, 
passed, the motion to reconsider be laid upon the table, and if there 
are statements I ask consent that they be printed in the Record.
  The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. Without objection, it is so 
ordered.
  The bill (S. 3606) was ordered to be engrossed for a third reading, 
was read the third time, and passed, as follows:

                                S. 3606

       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 ``Special Immigrant Nonminister 
     Religious Worker Program Act''.

     SEC. 2. SPECIAL IMMIGRANT NONMINISTER RELIGIOUS WORKER 
                   PROGRAM.

       (a) Extension.--Subclause (II) and subclause (III) of 
     section 101(a)(27)(C)(ii) of the Immigration and Nationality 
     Act (8 U.S.C. 1101(a)(27)(C)(ii)) are amended by striking 
     ``October 1, 2008,'' both places such term appears and 
     inserting ``March 6, 2009,''.
       (b) Regulations.--Not later than 30 days after the date of 
     the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Homeland Security 
     shall--
       (1) issue final regulations to eliminate or reduce fraud 
     related to the granting of special immigrant status for 
     special immigrants described in subclause (II) or (III) of 
     section 101(a)(27)(C)(ii) of the Immigration and Nationality 
     Act (8 U.S.C. 1101(a)(27)(C)(ii)); and
       (2) submit a certification to Congress and publish notice 
     in the Federal Register that

[[Page S9574]]

     such regulations have been issued and are in effect.
       (c) Report.--Not later than March 6, 2009, the Inspector 
     General of the Department of Homeland Security shall submit 
     to Congress a report on the effectiveness of the regulations 
     required by subsection (b)(1).
       (d) Effective Date.--The amendments made by subsection (a) 
     shall take effect on the date that the Secretary of Homeland 
     Security submits the certification described in subsection 
     (b)(2) stating that the final regulations required by 
     subsection (b)(1) have been issued and are in effect.

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