Speaker. I am pleased to present for my colleagues consideration. H.R. 5559. a bill to amend the Immigration and Nationality Act. Section 1 of this bill would permit the admission of a limited number of religious layworkers to work for nonprofit religious organizations. The layworkers would be required to obtain a labor certification prior to entry to ensure that no domestic workers are displaced. During oversight hearings this year held by the Immigration Subcommittee. the subcommittee became aware of problems in this area. particularly with the admission of nuns and brothers. Under current law. ordained ministers of religion can enter the United States as special immigrants but now ordained religious layworkers must be processed through the preference system. They experience a long delay in entering the country. A shortage in this country of people entering religious work has resulted in increasing reliance on foreign religious functionaries to staff religious offices and schools.
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Immigration immigrants