Provisions imposing stiff requirements on the hospitals and their respective States and localities to implement plans for reducing dependence on FMGs. and Provisions authorizing the use of National Health Service Corps personnel to assist hospitals in reducing dependence on FMGs. In my judgment. these provisions coupled with others in S. 2375 which were designed to address such issues as the geographic maldistribution of physicians would have greatly reduced. if not eliminated. our dependence on FMGs within the time stipulated. I regret that a jurisdictional disagreement in the House of Representatives regarding whether this matter is best addressed on a health bill or an immigration bill prevented the development of a more appropriate solution even in the context of S. 988. I had hoped that an agreement could be reached between all concerned parties of the House and Senate Health and Immigration Subcommittees on a mutually acceptable solution which could then have been incorporated into whatever bill had the most likely chance of passage. However. Representative HOLTZMAN. chairwoman of the House Judiciary Subcommittee on Immigration. Refugees and International Law. insisted that a longer term solution be provided for only in H.R. 7273. the Immigration and Nationality Efficiency Act which has passed neither the House nor Senate but which may be acted upon before the Congress adjourns. Should this bill be taken up in the Senate. I feel I must offer those amendments affecting the Immigration and Nationality Act now in S. 2375 to that bill when it comes to the floor. In closing. I would like to thank my colleagues in the conference committee on S. 988 for their willingness to include this emergency provision in S. 988. and especially Senators KENNEDY.
Keywords matched
Refugees Immigration immigration