Mr. President. I am pleased to join my colleagues on the immigration and Refugee Affairs Subcommittee in introducing this legislation to make some needed adjustment in the new 0 and P visa provisions of the Immigration and Nationality Act. The Immigration Subcommittee is the smallest subcommittee in the Senate. and we three members have produced some farreaching and major changes to our immigration law over the past 7 years. In one area of the Immigration Act of 1990 relating to entertainers and performers. we accept some changes that on further reflection were unwise. Since early this year. I have met with and heard from individuals and communities closely affected by the 0 and P visa provisions. The bill we introduce today incorporates many suggestions and recommendations jointly agreed to on both sides of the entertainer and performer issue. It was never our intention to artificially restrict the free flow of culture and entertainment so vital to the Nation. At the same time. in passing the Immigration Act of 1990. we did want to ensure that American actors. performers. technicians. and others in the arts were not limited in their employment and career opportunities by foreign workers. There has to be a balance and I believe the changes adopted by this legislation fine tune the 0 and P visa system. Again. this legislation is a product of many hours of negotiation and I commend the staff and the industry and labor representatives who have worked in good faith to reach some agreement on these matters. Finally. let me add my views on a related matter regarding emergency consideration of petitions by the district director. I have written to the Commissioner of the Immigration and Naturalization Service about the difficulties members of the entertainment industry as having in Illinois with regional adjudication. The INS regional office has been most cooperative with my Chicago staff in addressing these matters as they arise. Regional offices are not always in the position. however. to be familiar with local considerations. including performance and community sites.
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Immigration Refugee visa Naturalization immigration