Speaker. the need for experienced nurses in health care delivery has never been greater. Our country is facing an extreme nursing shortage and this legislation will help alleviate the problem. On December 31. 1989. temporary relief that was enacted last year to extend the visas of foreign nurses will expire. forcing the nurses to return home. H.R. 3259 addresses this problem by providing for the adjustment of status to permanent residency of registered nurses in the United States and by establishing conditions for the admission of foreign registered nurses during a 5year period. The Senate has also added language regarding the timely and significant steps that the facilities are required to take to ensure that they have tried to retain and recruit American nurses.