Speech #1020052925

Mr. Speaker. I rise in strong support of H.R. 2332legislation to extend the application period by 4 months for the Salvadoran Temporary Protected Status Program. As you know. temporary protected statusbetter known as TPSmerely provides Salvadoran refugees. who have fled the violent civil war in their homeland. 18 months of protection with work authorization. It is a modestyet very vitalrelief which could impact as many as 500.000 Salvadorans who are currently here in the United States in an undocumented status. I want to thank both Chairman MAzZOLI and Chairman BROOKS for moving this bill so expeditiously through both the Subcommittee on International Law and Refugees and the full Judiciary Committee. The matter before us today is quite urgentand needs immediate actionsince the current application period for TPS expires on June 30. Congress intended that Salvadorans be granted 6 months to register for this protection. Unfortunately. due to the inherent difficulties in implementing the program. it took more than 4 months for the administration to issue final regulations. including longpromised fee reductions. During those first 4 months. there was a great deal of confusion and apprehension among many of the Salvadorans whom Congress intended to help. The bottom line is this: Although this Congress promised Salvadorans 6 months to apply for the TPS Programin reality. we have only given them 2 months. That. Mr. Speaker. is simply not enough time. Mr. Speaker. very simply. all this legislation does is provide Salvadorans with the 6 months to apply for TPS that we promisednothing more. It does not even extend the 18month period of protectionthat can only be done by the Attorney General. The more people who apply. the better for everyone. including INS and local communities where Salvadorans reside. The more Salvadorans who can obtain work permits and have the ability to work legally in this country. the more who will be eligible to pay taxesboth local and Federal. And the more Salvadorans who can obtain this temporary legal status. the less likely that they will be subjected to exploitation by unscrupulous employers and landlords. Mr.