Speech #910173491

Mr. Speaker. I voice my support of S. 2593. as amended. to modernize certain provisions of the Immigration and Nationality Act regarding the admission of nonimmigrants. The amendments proposed by this bill before us today will serve the best interests of the United States. Certain limitations and conditions in existing law which have caused difficulties in administration. have produced hardship and have denied the United States the services of highly qualified persons. are removed by this bill. This bill is actually a consolidation of proposals which were contained in bills introduced by several members of the Judiciary Committeeproposals which are fully endorsed and supported by the executive branch. My colleagues on the committee have discussed various provisions of the bill. and I would like to direct my remarks to section 2. which proposes significant changes in the provisions regarding exchange visitor visas. The Mutual Educational and Cultural Exchange Act was designed to promote better understanding among nations through the exchange of scholars. students. trainees. and others. However. there developed. in addition to Governmentsponsored programs. "participating programs" which offered an opportunity for aliens to come to the United States to take positionsinterns. residents. teachersfor which they could receive compensation. Thus. the exchange visa became. to a certain degree. a type of work visanot fully within the concept of that act. The years of experience with the requirement that an exchange visitor must reside in his country of last residence or nationality or a thirdcountry for at least 2 years has. in many instances. resulted in hardship to the exchange visitor. and has not served to promote a healthy feeling or understanding between the exchange visitor and the United States. It is not unfair to state that participating programs were easily made available by the Department of State. and that institutions. particularly hospitals. have utilized the exchange program more as a vehicle of recruitment than as a basis for training.