Speech #1020052922

Mr. Speaker. the bill before us Is simple and straightforward. Quite simply. it extends for 4 months the application period for those Salvadorans in the United States who may wish to apply for a program created by Congress last year. known as temporary protected status or "TPS." There was a hearing on H.R. 2332 held on May 15. and the full Judiciary Committee reported H.R. 2332 favorably on June 18. TPS is a statutorily created program designed to fill the middle ground between fullfledged refugee status and undocumented Immigration status. Essentially. temporary protected status allows nationals from wartorn or otherwise dangerous countries to remain in the United States temporarily until conditions in the home country stabilize. It codifies and supersedes an administrative practice known as extended voluntary departure. which existed since 1959 and which the Attorney General has exercised in the past for nationals of such countries as Afghanistan. Cuba. and Poland. H.R. 2332 does not extend the TPS benefits period. That is to say. it does not lengthen the period of temporary protected status. Under the terms of the 1990 Immigration Act. TPS for Salvadorans will expire on June 30 of next year. The temporary protected status application periodas opposed to the benefits periodIs due to expire on June 30. Just 5 days from now. Under H.R. 2332 the application period would be extended until October 31. 1991--In effect a 4 month extension.