[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 117 (Thursday, August 2, 2012)]
[Senate]
[Pages S6006-S6007]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
REAUTHORIZING CERTAIN VISA PROGRAMS
Mr. REID. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Judiciary
Committee be discharged from further consideration of S. 3245 and that
the Senate proceed to its immediate consideration.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the bill by title.
The assistant legislative read as follows:
A bill (S. 3245) to permanently reauthorize the EB-5
Regional Center Program, the E-Verify Program, the Special
Immigrant Nonminister Religious Worker Program, and the
Conrad State 30 J-1 Visa Waiver Program.
Without objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the bill.
Mr. LEAHY. Mr. President, today, the Senate worked together to
advance bipartisan legislation that Senator Grassley and I introduced,
and I thank all Senators for their support. I am very pleased that the
Senate has agreed to pass this important legislation as it has been
amended. I especially commend Senator Grassley, Senator Hatch, Senator
Conrad, and Senator Schumer for their collaboration. And I thank
Senator Menendez for working with us to get this done in the Senate.
This legislation contains extensions for four long-standing
immigration programs for another 3 years. These programs, last
authorized in the fiscal year 2010 Homeland Security Appropriations
law, are set to expire on September 30, 2012. Today's actions are a
step toward avoiding that result, and maintaining the progress and
benefits that these programs provide to many American communities and
constituencies.
A program that I have long supported with Senators on both sides of
aisle, the EB-5 Regional Center Program, has brought tens of thousands
of jobs and billions in capital investment to communities across the
United States at no cost to the taxpayer. This program represents one
small corner of our overall immigration system, yet it results in
enormous benefits for so many communities, including Vermont, where our
Governors across administrations and business leaders have put it to
use to make Vermont a better place for its citizens. The economic
transformation we have seen in some Vermont communities as the direct
result of this program is profound. Over the last several years,
Vermonters who might have been out of work in a struggling economy
found themselves working to build up Vermont companies, building
Vermont products, and supporting economic activity in their
communities. And so today, business leaders and entrepreneurs in
Vermont, along with Vermont's Governor Peter Shumlin and his economic
development team will continue to have this tool to help raise the
capital Vermont needs to continue its innovation and economic growth.
Job creation and capital investment in America is something I know we
can all support, and today I am proud to say we have done just that. I
want to give my thanks to the Association to Invest in the U.S.A., the
American Immigration Lawyers Association, and all of the entrepreneurs
and businesses large and small across the United States that have
realized the economic benefits of this program and that have so
strongly supported my efforts.
The bill we pass today also continues programs important to Senator
Hatch and Senator Conrad. Today we take a step toward carrying on
Senator Conrad's program to encourage foreign doctors trained in the
United States to practice medicine in medically underserved rural
areas. And today we move to continue Senator Hatch's program to give
United States religious institutions the ability to invite foreign
citizens of shared faith to their communities to carry out good works
and to help others.
And this legislation reauthorizes the E-Verify work authorization
program, which I know is very important to the Judiciary Committee's
ranking member and other Senators. This program gives American
employers a tool to ensure that those they hire are legally authorized
to work in the United States. Yet it maintains its status as a
voluntary program for employers, and maintains that choice for our
businesses large and small to participate if they choose.
I regret that it has been such a long road for us to get to this
point today. These measures should be the easy ones. The politics of
immigration continue to make our progress difficult not only on the
broader measures that America needs, but on the smaller ones that
Congress has supported for many years. So I am pleased the Senate has
[[Page S6007]]
acted in support of all of these programs today. I would have liked to
see these programs made permanent after the many years they have been
in existence they should be. But I also understand that with
permanence, the Senate should look at ways to improve them where
possible so that they are more secure and more effective. I am prepared
to do that.
Though we take a small step forward today with these
reauthorizations, I remain as committed today to tackle comprehensive
immigration reform as I was when I supported President Bush in 2006 and
2007 in his efforts to make real change in our laws. I expect we will
be there again soon and I look forward to the day we will once again
begin the effort to strengthen and protect our entire immigration
system.
Mr. REID. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that a Leahy-
Grassley substitute amendment, which is at the desk, be agreed to; the
bill, as amended, be read a third time and passed; that a Leahy-
Grassley amendment to the title, which is also at the desk, be agreed
to; the motions to reconsider be laid upon the table with no
intervening action or debate; and any statements related to the bill be
printed in the Record.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
The amendment (No. 2773) was agreed to as follows:
(Purpose: In the nature of a substitute)
Strike all after the enacting clause and insert the
following:
SECTION 1. REAUTHORIZATION OF EB-5 REGIONAL CENTER PROGRAM.
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--
(1) by striking ``pilot'' each place such term appears; and
(2) in subsection (b), by striking ``September 30, 2012''
and inserting ``September 30, 2015''.
SEC. 2. REAUTHORIZATION OF E-VERIFY.
Section 401(b) of the Illegal Immigration Reform and
Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996 (8 U.S.C. 1324a note) is
amended by striking ``September 30, 2012'' and inserting
``September 30, 2015''.
SEC. 3. REAUTHORIZATION OF SPECIAL IMMIGRANT NONMINISTER
RELIGIOUS WORKER PROGRAM.
Section 101(a)(27)(C)(ii) of the Immigration and
Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1101(a)(27)(C)(ii)) is amended--
(1) in subclause (II), by striking ``September 30, 2012''
and inserting ``September 30, 2015''; and
(2) in subclause (III), by striking ``September 30, 2012''
and inserting ``September 30, 2015''.
SEC. 4. REAUTHORIZATION OF CONRAD STATE 30 J-1 VISA WAIVER
PROGRAM.
Section 220(c) of the Immigration and Nationality Technical
Corrections Act of 1994 (8 U.S.C. 1182 note) is amended by
striking ``September 30, 2012'' and inserting ``September 30,
2015''.
SEC. 5. NO AUTHORITY FOR NATIONAL IDENTIFICATION CARD.
Nothing in this Act may be construed to authorize the
planning, testing, piloting, or development of a national
identification card.
The amendment (No. 2774) was agreed to, as follows:
(Purpose: To amend the title)
Amend the title so as to read: ``A bill to extend by 3
years the authorization of the EB-5 Regional Center Program,
the E-Verify Program, the Special Immigrant Nonminister
Religious Worker Program, and the Conrad State 30 J-1 Visa
Waiver Program.''.
The bill (S. 3245) was ordered to be engrossed for a third reading,
was read the third time, and passed.
____________________