[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 145 (1999), Part 14]
[Senate]
[Page 20024]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]


[[Page 20024]]

                             PRIVATE RELIEF

  Mr. BROWNBACK. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate 
now proceed en bloc to the following bills which were reported today by 
the Judiciary Committee:


  S. 199, S. 275, and S. 452.
  I further ask unanimous consent that any committee amendments be 
agreed to where applicable, the bills be read a third time and passed, 
the motions to reconsider be laid on the table, and that any statements 
relating to the bills be printed in the Record with the above occurring 
en bloc.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The bills (S. 199, S. 275, and S. 452) were passed en bloc, as 
follows:

                                 S. 199

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. PERMANENT RESIDENCE.

       Notwithstanding any other provision of law, for purposes of 
     the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1101 et seq.), 
     Alexandre Malofienko, Olga Matsko, and their son, Vladimir 
     Malofienko, shall be held and considered to have been 
     lawfully admitted to the United States for permanent 
     residence as of the date of the enactment of this Act upon 
     payment of the required visa fees.

     SEC. 2. REDUCTION OF NUMBER OF AVAILABLE VISAS.

       Upon the granting of permanent residence to Alexandre 
     Malofienko, Olga Matsko, and their son, Vladimir Malofienko, 
     as provided in section 1, the Secretary of State shall 
     instruct the proper officer to reduce by the appropriate 
     number during the current fiscal year the total number of 
     immigrant visas available to natives of the country of the 
     aliens' birth under section 203(a) of the Immigration and 
     Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1153(a)).
                                  ____


                                 S. 275

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. PERMANENT RESIDENT STATUS FOR SUCHADA KWONG.

       (a) In General.--Notwithstanding subsections (a) and (b) of 
     section 201 of the Immigration and Nationality Act, Suchada 
     Kwong shall be eligible for issuance of an immigrant visa or 
     for adjustment of status to that of an alien lawfully 
     admitted for permanent residence upon filing an application 
     for issuance of an immigrant visa under section 204 of such 
     Act or for adjustment of status to lawful permanent resident.
       (b) Adjustment of Status.--If Suchada Kwong enters the 
     United States before the filing deadline specified in 
     subsection (c), she shall be considered to have entered and 
     remained lawfully and shall, if otherwise eligible, be 
     eligible for adjustment of status under section 245 of the 
     Immigration and Nationality Act as of the date of the 
     enactment of this Act.
       (c) Deadline for Application and Payment of Fees.--
     Subsections (a) and (b) shall apply only if the applications 
     for issuance of immigrant visas or the applications for 
     adjustment of status are filed with appropriate fees within 2 
     years after the date of the enactment of this Act.
       (d) Reduction of Immigrant Visa Number.--Upon the granting 
     of an immigrant visa or permanent residence to Suchada Kwong, 
     the Secretary of State shall instruct the proper officer to 
     reduce by one, during the current or next following fiscal 
     year, the total number of immigrant visas that are made 
     available to natives of the country of the alien's birth 
     under section 203(a) of the Immigration and Nationality Act 
     or, if applicable, the total number of immigrant visas that 
     are made available to natives of the country of the alien's 
     birth under section 202(e) of such Act.
                                  ____


                                 S. 452

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. PERMANENT RESIDENCE.

       (a) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, for 
     purposes of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 
     1101 et seq.), Belinda McGregor shall be held and considered 
     to have been selected for a diversity immigrant visa for 
     fiscal year 2000 as of the date of the enactment of this Act 
     upon payment of the required visa fee.
       (b) Adjustment of Status.--If Belinda McGregor, or any 
     child (as defined in section 101(b)(1) of the Immigration and 
     Nationality Act) of Belinda McGregor, enters the United 
     States before the date of the enactment of this Act, he or 
     she shall be considered to have entered and remained lawfully 
     and shall, if otherwise eligible, be eligible for adjustment 
     of status under section 245 of the Immigration and 
     Nationality Act as of the date of the enactment of this Act.

     SEC. 2. REDUCTION OF NUMBER OF AVAILABLE VISAS.

       Upon the granting of permanent residence to Belinda 
     McGregor as provided in this Act, the Secretary of State 
     shall instruct the proper officer to reduce by one number 
     during the current fiscal year the total number of immigrant 
     visas available to natives of the country of the alien's 
     birth under section 203(c) of the Immigration and Nationality 
     Act (8 U.S.C. 1153(c)).

    relief of vova malofienko, olga matsko, and alexander malofienko

  Mr. LAUTENBERG. Mr. President, I am extremely pleased that the Senate 
has passed legislation that will provide permanent residency in the 
United States for 15-year-old Vova Malofienko and his family.
  In order to understand the importance of this legislation, you need 
to know more about Vova. He was born in Chernigov, Ukraine, just 30 
miles from the Chornobyl nuclear reactor. In 1986, when he was just 
two, the reactor exploded and he was exposed to high levels of 
radiation. He was diagnosed with lleukemia in June 1990, shortly before 
his sixth birthday.
  Through the efforts of the Children of Chornobyl Relief Fund, Vova 
and his mother came to the United States with seven other children to 
attend Paul Newman's ``Hole in the Wall'' camp in Connecticut. While in 
this country, Vova was able to receive extensive cancer treatment and 
chemotherapy. In November of 1992, his cancer went into remission.
  Regrettably, the other children from Chornobyl were not as fortunate. 
They returned to the Ukraine and they died one by one because of 
inadequate cancer treatment. Not a child survived.
  The air, food, and water in the Ukraine are still contaminated with 
radiation and are perilous to those like Vova who have a weakened 
immune system. Additionally, cancer treatment available in the Ukraine 
is not as sophisticated as treatment available in the United States. 
Although Vova completed his chemotherapy in 1992, he continues to need 
medical follow-up on a consistent basis, including physical 
examinations, lab work and radiological examinations to assure early 
detection and prompt and appropriate therapy in the unfortunate event 
the leukemia recurs.
  Because of his perilous medical condition, Vova and his family have 
done everything possible to remain in the United States. I tried to 
help by supporting their visa applications to the Immigration and 
Naturalization Service, and by sponsoring this legislation. The passage 
of this measure is the culmination of many years of hard work by Vova, 
his family, and members of the Millburn community.
  Throughout all of these struggles, Vova has been an inspiration to 
all. An honors student at Milburn Middle School, he has been an 
eloquent spokesperson for children with cancer. He has rallied the 
community and helped bring out the best in everyone. His dedication, 
grace, and dignity provide an outstanding example, not just to young 
people, but to all Americans.
  I am pleased to have been able to help Vova and his family. I want to 
thank the House sponsors of this legislation, Representatives Rothman 
and Franks, for their efforts in support of this legislation. I also 
want to thank Senators Abraham, Hatch, Leahy, and Kennedy for moving 
this bill through the legislative process. It has been an honor to work 
on Vova's behalf, and I hope that he and his family enjoy great success 
and much happiness in the years ahead.

                          ____________________