[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 102 (Tuesday, June 18, 2019)]
[Senate]
[Page S3759]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
SA 738. Mr. REED (for himself, Ms. Smith, Ms. Klobuchar, and Mr.
Whitehouse) submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by him to
the bill S. 1790, to authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2020 for
military activities of the Department of Defense, for military
construction, and for defense activities of the Department of Energy,
to prescribe military personnel strengths for such fiscal year, and for
other purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows:
At the end of subtitle H of title X, add the following:
SEC. ____. REPORT ON IMPACT OF LIBERIAN NATIONALS ON THE
NATIONAL SECURITY, FOREIGN POLICY, AND ECONOMIC
AND HUMANITARIAN INTERESTS OF THE UNITED STATES
AND A JUSTIFICATION FOR ADJUSTMENT OF STATUS OF
QUALIFYING LIBERIANS TO THAT OF LAWFUL
PERMANENT RESIDENTS.
(a) Findings.--Congress makes the following findings:
(1) In 1989, a seven-year civil war broke out in Liberia
that--
(A) claimed the lives of an estimated 200,000 people;
(B) displaced over \1/2\ of the Liberian population;
(C) halted food production; and
(D) destroyed the infrastructure and economy of Liberia.
(2) A second civil war then followed from 1999 to 2003,
further destabilizing Liberia and creating more turmoil and
hardship for Liberians.
(3) In total, the two civil wars in Liberia killed up to an
estimated \1/4\ million individuals.
(4) From 2014 to 2016, Liberia faced an Ebola virus
outbreak that devastated the fragile health system of Liberia
and killed nearly 5,000 individuals.
(5) As a result of these devastating events, thousands of
Liberians sought refuge in the United States, living and
working here under Temporary Protected Status (TPS) and
Deferred Enforced Departure (DED), extended under both
Republican and Democratic administrations beginning in 1991
with the administration of President George H. W. Bush.
(6) These law-abiding and taxpaying Liberians have made
homes in the United States, have worked hard, played by the
rules, paid their dues, and submitted to rigorous vetting.
Many such Liberians have United States citizen children who
have served in the Armed Forces, and in some cases have
themselves served in that capacity.
(7) The Liberian community in the United States has also
contributed greatly to private sector investment and
socioeconomic assistance in Liberia by providing remittances
to relatives in Liberia.
(8) While there was a positive development in 2017 with the
first democratic transfer of power in more than 70 years, the
Department of State has identified the capital and most
populous city of Liberia, Monrovia, as being a critical-
threat location for crime. Access to healthcare remains
limited, critical infrastructure is lacking, and widespread
corruption coupled with low wages and a weak economic
recovery has left the country vulnerable to civil unrest.
(b) Report.--
(1) In general.--Not later than December 31, 2019, the
Secretary of Defense, in consultation with the Secretary of
State, shall submit to the congressional defense committees a
report on the impact of Liberian nationals on the national
security, foreign policy, and economic, and humanitarian
interests of the United States and a justification for
adjustment of status of qualifying Liberians to that of
lawful permanent residents.
(2) Elements.--The report required by paragraph (1) shall
include the following:
(A) The number of current or former Liberian nationals and
their children who have served or are currently serving in
the Armed Forces.
(B) The amount of remittances sent by current or former
Liberian nationals to relatives in Liberia and an assessment
of the impact on the economic development of Liberia if these
remittances were to cease.
(C) The economic and tax contributions that Liberian
nationals and their children have made to the United States.
(D) An assessment of the impact on the United States of
adjusting the status of Liberian nationals who have
continuous physical presence in the United States beginning
on November 20, 2014, and ending on the date of the enactment
of this Act, or for adjusting the status of the spouses,
children, and unmarried sons or daughters of such Liberian
nationals.
(c) Qualifying Liberian.--
(1) In general.--In this section, the term ``qualifying
Liberian'' means and alien (as defined in section 101(a) of
the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1101(a)) who--
(A)(i) is a national of Liberia; and
(ii) has been continuously present in the United States
during the period beginning on November 20, 2014, and ending
on the date of the enactment of this Act;
(B) is the spouse, child, or unmarried son or daughter of
an alien described in subparagraph (A);
(C) is otherwise eligible to receive an immigrant visa; and
(D) is admissible to the United States for permanent
residence, except that the grounds of inadmissibility
specified in paragraphs (4), (5), (6)(A), and (7)(A) of
section 212(a) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8
U.S.C. 1182(a)) shall not apply.
(2) Exceptions.--The term ``qualifying Liberian'' does not
include any alien who--
(A) has been convicted of any aggravated felony;
(B) has been convicted of 2 or more crimes involving moral
turpitude (other than a purely political offense); or
(C) has ordered, incited, assisted, or otherwise
participated in the persecution of any person on account of
race, religion, nationality, membership in a particular
social group, or political opinion.
(3) Determination of continuous physical presence.--For
purposes of establishing the period of continuous physical
presence referred to in paragraph (1)(A)(ii), an alien shall
not be considered to have failed to maintain continuous
physical presence based on 1 or more absences from the United
States for 1 or more periods amounting, in the aggregate, to
not more than 180 days.
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