[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 17 (Tuesday, February 5, 2013)]
[House]
[Pages H349-H350]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       U VISA REFORM ACT OF 2013

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from 
Tennessee (Mrs. Black) for 5 minutes.
  Mrs. BLACK. Mr. Speaker, in the year 2000, Congress created the U 
Visa program as a way to allow illegal immigrant crime victims a 
temporary--a temporary--legal status in order to assist law enforcement 
in the prosecution of their assailant, which has helped bring thousands 
of criminals to justice.
  However, over time, the U Visa has become a pathway to citizenship 
for essentially everyone who applies. The rampant abuse of this program 
is detrimental to law-abiding individuals who seek to immigrate to our 
country through the proper legal channels.
  We are a Nation of immigrants, and we are also a Nation built upon 
respect for the rule of law. Our heritage and our principles demand of 
us the courage to reform our broken immigration system so that those 
who follow the law and want to contribute to the betterment of our 
Nation will have the opportunity to do so.
  That is why I have introduced the U Visa Reform Act of 2013 to stop 
abuses in the U Visa program. I urge my colleagues to join me in 
support of this commonsense piece of legislation.

[[Page H350]]



                          ____________________