[105th Congress Public Law 319]
[From the U.S. Government Printing Office]
<DOC>
[DOCID: f:publ319.105]
[[Page 112 STAT. 3013]]
Public Law 105-319
105th Congress
An Act
To establish a cultural training program for disadvantaged individuals
to assist the Irish peace process. <<NOTE: Oct. 30, 1998 - [H.R.
4293]>>
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress <<NOTE: Irish Peace Process
Cultural and Training Program Act of 1998. 8 USC 1101 note.>> assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Irish Peace Process Cultural and
Training Program Act of 1998''.
SEC. 2. <<NOTE: 8 USC 1101 note.>> IRISH PEACE PROCESS CULTURAL AND
TRAINING PROGRAM.
(a) Purpose.--
(1) In general.--The Secretary of State and the Attorney
General shall establish a program to allow young people from
disadvantaged areas of designated counties suffering from
sectarian violence and high structural unemployment to enter the
United States for the purpose of developing job skills and
conflict resolution abilities in a diverse, cooperative,
peaceful, and prosperous environment, so that those young people
can return to their homes better able to contribute toward
economic regeneration and the Irish peace process. The program
shall promote cross-community and cross-border initiatives to
build grassroots support for long-term peaceful coexistence. The
Secretary of State and the Attorney General shall cooperate with
nongovernmental organizations to assist those admitted to
participate fully in the economic, social, and cultural life of
the United States.
(2) Scope and duration of program.--
(A) In general.--The program under paragraph (1)
shall provide for the admission of not more than 4,000
aliens under section 101(a)(15)(Q)(ii) of the
Immigration and Nationality Act (including spouses and
minor children) in each of 3 consecutive program years.
(B) Offset in number of h-2b nonimmigrant admissions
allowed.--Notwithstanding any other provision of law,
for each alien so admitted in a fiscal year, the
numerical limitation specified under section
214(g)(1)(B) of the Immigration and Nationality Act
shall be reduced by 1 for that fiscal year or the
subsequent fiscal year.
(3) Records and report.--The Immigration and Naturalization
Service shall maintain records of the nonimmigrant status and
place of residence of each alien admitted under the program. Not
later than 120 days after the end of the third program year and
for the 3 subsequent years, the
[[Page 112 STAT. 3014]]
Immigration and Naturalization Service shall compile and submit
to the Congress a report on the number of aliens admitted with
nonimmigrant status under section 101(a)(15)(Q)(ii) who have
overstayed their visas.
(4) Designated counties defined.--For the purposes of this
Act, the term ``designated counties'' means the six counties of
Northern Ireland and the counties of Louth, Monaghan, Cavan,
Leitrim, Sligo, and Donegal within the Republic of Ireland.
(b) Temporary Nonimmigrant Visa.--
(1) In general.--Section 101(a)(15)(Q) of the Immigration
and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1101(a)(15)(Q)) is amended--
(A) by inserting ``(i)'' after ``(Q)''; and
(B) by inserting after the semicolon at the end the
following: ``or (ii)(I) an alien 35 years of age or
younger having a residence in Northern Ireland, or the
counties of Louth, Monaghan, Cavan, Leitrim, Sligo, and
Donegal within the Republic of Ireland, which the alien
has no intention of abandoning who is coming temporarily
(for a period not to exceed 36 months) to the United
States as a participant in a cultural and training
program approved by the Secretary of State and the
Attorney General under section 2(a) of the Irish Peace
Process Cultural and Training Program Act of 1998 for
the purpose of providing practical training, employment,
and the experience of coexistence and conflict
resolution in a diverse society, and (II) the alien
spouse and minor children of any such alien if
accompanying the alien or following to join the
alien;''.
(c) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be
appropriated for each fiscal year such sums as may be necessary to carry
out the purposes of this section. Amounts appropriated pursuant to this
subsection are authorized to be available until expended.
(d) Sunset.--
(1) <<NOTE: Effective date.>> Effective October 1, 2005, the
Irish Peace Process
Cultural and Training Program Act of 1998 is repealed.
[[Page 112 STAT. 3015]]
(2) <<NOTE: Effective date.>> Effective October 1, 2005,
section 101(a)(15)(Q) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8
U.S.C. 1101(a)(15)(Q)) is amended--
(A) by striking ``or'' at the end of clause (i);
(B) by striking ``(i)'' after ``(Q)''; and
(C) by striking clause (ii).
Approved October 30, 1998.
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY--H.R. 4293:
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CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 144 (1998):
Oct. 7, considered and passed House.
Oct. 8, considered and passed Senate.
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