[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 146 (2000), Part 18]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 25926]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



 PROVIDING FOR SPECIAL IMMIGRANT STATUS FOR CERTAIN U.S. INTERNATIONAL 
                         BROADCASTING EMPLOYEES

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                        HON. SHEILA JACKSON-LEE

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, October 31, 2000

  Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this bill 
S. 3239 which would amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to 
provide special immigrant status for certain international broadcasting 
employees.
  S. 3239 would establish a new immigrant visa category for 
international broadcasting employees which would be subject to 
numerical limitations. It would provide a maximum of 200 visas in the 
first year, which would deal with the current critical shortage of 
international broadcasters. Then it would provide a maximum of 100 
visas annually for three successive years. Also, it would waive the 
labor certification requirement for the broadcasters who receive the 
visas.
  The people who work in the international broadcasting industry are 
highly skilled individuals. They must have journalistic skills. They 
must be fluent in a number of languages. And they must have an in-depth 
knowledge of the people, history, and cultures of other nations. 
Historically, it has not been possible to find a sufficient number of 
people in the American workforce who have this combination of skills.
  The availability of these visas would help to provide needed 
broadcasters for the Voice of America (``VOA''), Radio Free Asia, Inc. 
(``RFA''), and Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, Inc.
  This bill would provide the assistance that the international 
broadcasting industry needs to continue to provide essential news 
coverage around the world. I urge Members to support it.

                          ____________________