Speech #930120727

We plan to return to further consideration of the entire labor certification program at a later time when we have more adequate information on its operation. Another provision of H.R. 981 in the labor area is the removal of the restriction of H2 temporary workers to employment which is temporary or seasonal in nature. This amendment is largely the result of the extensive illegal alien hearings held by the Immigration Subcommittee during the 92d Congress. In our opinion. it will ease some of the employment problems we have encountered. as well as meet the needs of many Mexicans who now enter as immigrants because they are unable to enter temporarily to work at permanent ongoing jobs. The protection provided U.S. labor is also strengthened. Labor certification would be statutorily required of H2 temporary workers. and the period of stay would be limited to a maximum of 2 years. Section 4 of H.R. 981 increases the annual visa allotment for colonies and dependencies from 200 to 600. chargeable to the hemisphere in which they are located rather than to the mother country. as Is currently the case. Backlogs have developed in at least half of the dependencies. The committee believes that an increase to 600 would represent a reasonable allocation of visas to the dependencies. I want to emphasize that this provision provides only for a redistribution of visas. it does not increase the total number of admissible immigrants. Two other provisions. relating to the Virgin Islands and Cuban refugees. are primarily of a housekeeping nature. Both are temporary in nature and limited In scope. Section 7 of H.R. 981 establishes a program under which certain aliens now in the Virgin Islands in a temporary nonimmigrant status would be afforded an opportunity to acquire permanent resident status. Section 8 provides that Cuban refugees in this country on the date of enactment who adjust their status to that of permanent resident alien will not be charged to the 120.000 Western Hemisphere ceiling. Both provisions are designed to correct existing problems that were created many years ago. The proposed amendments will eliminate such situations in the future. The subcommittee has worked long and hard to bring this essential legislation to the floor. A fair and reasonable immigration policy requires its enactment. I urge my colleagues to support this very Important immigration legislation.