Speech #1010090086

Mr. Speaker. H.R. 3259. the Immigration Nursing Relief Act of 1989. responds to our national shortage of qualified nurses by permitting foreign nurses to stay in the United States and admitting additional ones. The nursing shortage is a nationwide phenomenon. The vacancy rate for professional or registered nurses is as high as 10 percent in some areas of the country. resulting in overcrowding of hospitals. emergency room backlogs. and a lower standard of care. The inadequate supply of nurses has been partially alleviated by admitting foreign nurses into the United States. Between 1983 and 1989. about 32.000 foreigneducated nurses were licensed in the United States. constituting almost 7 percent of the total number of nurses who passed the professional nurse licensing examinations for that period. Under current law. foreign nurses in the United States hold H1 visas. These nurses are initially admitted into the United States for only 2 or 3 years. but they have been allowed to extend their visas for several years. However. the Immigration and Naturalization Service instituted a 5year limit on H1 visas. effective March 1987. Therefore. foreign nurses must apply for permanent residency or leave the United States at the end of 5 years. The imposition of a 5year limit is a serious threat to nurses from overseas. Quotas for permanent residency are such that some foreign nurses must wait 7 to 14 years. because of backlogs. to convert to permanent status. H.R. 3259 gives immigrant status to alien nurses currently employed in U.S. hospitals. The bill also provides for the admission of additional alien nurses for a 5year period to relieve the current shortage in U.S. hospitals. H.R. 3259 also requires U.S. hospitals to take certain steps to recruit and retain nurses so that future reliance on alien nurses is decreased.