Speech #890315013

I trust that the conference report on H.R. 15183 will be speedily adopted. The bill. as reported by the conference. is substantially the legislation as it passed the House. The principal area of disagreement between the two bodies was the question whether the refugees from Cuba would have a record of lawful admission for permanent residence created as of the date of approval of their applicationthe House version. or whether the record would be created retroactively to their date of arrival into the United States. The conferees agreed to a compromise which would authorize the Attorney General to create a record of lawful admission 30 months prior to the date such a refugee filed an application for adjustment of status to remain here permanently. or as of the date of the aliens arrival into the United States. whichever is later. Before a refugee from Cuba is eligible to apply for adjustment of status he must have been physically present in the United States for at least 2 years. Thus. the refugee will gain 6 months. as a maximum. of permanent residence status. The great majority of refugees from Cuba have been in the United States for many years and the conferees thought it would only be equitable to give them some retroactive status as permanent residents. but not going so far as to make them automatically eligible to apply for naturalization. The Senate receded on two areas of disagreement. the House accepted a Senate proposal not contained in the House bill. and the major issue was resolved by a compromise.