Speech #900312044

Mr. Speaker. passage today in the House of Representatives of H.R. 15450. a committee version of a bill which I originally sponsored to amend section 101(a) (27) (D) of the Immigration and Nationality Act. Is a necessary first step in correcting some of the unforeseen. temporary inequities resulting from the enactment of the Immigration and Nationality Act Amendments of 1965. H.R. 15450 exempts from the numerical limitation on immigration any Immigrant seeking to enter the United States solely for the purpose of serving as a missionary. brother. nun. or sister of a religious denomination and whose services are needed by such a religious denomination having a bona fide organization in the United States. It places members of a bona fide religious organization in the category of "special immigrants." H.R. 15450 would expedite visa issuance to religious. and is a beginning toward helping Western European nations reestablish their historically major contribution to immigration to this country. Special immigrant status has long been accorded to ministers of religious denominations. Enactment of this legislation merely extends this status to religious workers whose services help maintain schools. orphanages. hospitals. and other educational and health institutions. Mr.