Speech #1010057138

Mr. Speaker. I agree with the administration and urge my colleagues to vote against H.R. 2712. legislation that waives the 2year residency requirement for all Chinese students holding J1 visas. Although I agree that Chinese students and Chinese nationals should not now go back. this bill simply waives the 2year foreign residency requirement without providing a statutory framework for their temporary stay In the United States. The 2year foreign resident requirement applies to all J1 student visa holders and provides that foreign nationals. upon completion of their education. return to their country of origin. Education is a valuable resource to all countries. The 2year foreign residency requirement protects foreign countries that send students to the United States from losing the benefits of their education and abilities. The bill before us today waives the requirement for all Chinese students. not just those who are now eligible for this requirement. At this time we do not have enough information to know what will happen 7 or 8 years down the road. when some students might be required to fulfill their foreign residency requirement. At the very least this waiver should be limited to a time certain consistant with deferred deportation status. The Department of State and the USIA testified on July 20 that this blanket waiver may create problems for future Chinese students seeking to come here and study. A different Peoples Republic of China regime may welcome back these students in future years. and. no doubt. their education is of tremendous value to their country. Such a blanket proposal Jeopardizes our student visa program with China and perhaps our future relations with another Chinese regime. It has been argued that Congress can always reverse its decision and change the blanket proposal once another regime comes to power in the Peoples Republic of China. However. as my colleagues know. reversing such a decision is much more difficult than making stepbystep decisions In granting extensions.