Speech #1020085598

S. 296 Includes the Identical provision with minor technical amendments. As passed by the Senate. S. 296 also Includes a provision to reauthorize appropriations for refugee resettlement under the 1980 Refugee Act. The reauthorization is for fiscal year 1992 only. and provides "such sums as may be necessary." Expenditures reauthorized are for the Department of Health and Human Services. which spends about $400 million a year to assist refugees resettling in the United States. The Refugee Act of 1980 has not been reauthorlzed since fiscal year 1988. S. 296 also Includes a provision to defer until April 1. 1992. the effective date for the new 0 and P visa categoriesathletes. artIste. and entertainers. The Senate provision Is Identical to H.R. 3294. which was approved by the House Judiciary Committee on September Also included is a provision to ease the transition from the old Immigration law to the new law. which Is scheduled to go Into effect on October 1. as It pertains to aliens coming permanently and lawfully to the United States because their employment skills are in demand. Under the 1990 Immigration Act. aliens who filed petitions for employmentrelated visas under the old law are required to refile under the new law. Such a requirement makes little sense. since the categories under the new law and the old law are the same. The Senate provision. therefore. says that a filing made under the old law shall be deemed a filIng under the new law. This provision eliminates burdensome paperwork requirements and is strongly supported by not only Immigration practitioners but also the Department of Justice. Finally. as passed by the Senate. S. 296 corrects one additional problem created by the 1990 law. Because of a drafting error. certain aliens who will receive employmentbased immigrant visas will not be able to bring their spouses and children to the United States. The spouses and minor children of permanent resident aliens have always been allowedwithin existing quotasto enter with the pdncipal alien. The Senate provision. which is supported by the Department of Justice. reinstates this policy.