Speech #1030232388

Mr. Speaker. H.R. 783 will clarify a provision of immigration law dealing with stowaways on International aircraft under which this Nations airlines have suffered a severe and undue burden for many years. As Chair of the Committee on Public Works and Transportation. I applaud and strongly endorse this reform. Mr. Speaker. there are a number of other provisions of this bill which are of major Importance to me. as well. H.R. 783 contains my H.R. 283. the Equity in Citizenship Act. legislation designed to remove one of the last remaining vestiges of discrimination against women in our immigration code. This legislation. which appears as section 201 of H.R. 783. would grant U.S. citizenship to the children of American mothers who have been denied that citizenship because they were born before 1934. This discriminatory provision of our immigration laws is continuing to affect people todaypeople who by all rights should be American citizens. H.R. 783 will finally grant them the citizenship that should always have been theirs by right. The bill will also ease the availability of the knowledge of English language and American Government requirement for older. longterm permanent residents. This humanitarian provision was authored by my good friend. Congressman BARNEY FRANK. and will be a tremendous benefit to AsianPacific American Immigrants who are eager to declare their loyalty to this. their adopted country. by taking the oath of citizenship. H.R. 783 will also: Reauthorize current programs for refugee assistance. under which States receive roughly $400 million in fiscal year 1995. This reauthorization represents an affirmation of the Federal Governments commitment to helping State and local governments deal with the pressing humanitarian. health and economic needs of the refugees in their communities. Streamline the procedures to obtain American citizenship for children adopted by American parents living abroad. Extend the special immigration status for religious workers. Extend the offcampus work authorization for foreign students studying the United States. And. under language adopted in the other body. establish a new visa category allowing foreign students graduating from American medical schools to remain In this country if they agree to practice In areas with a shortage of health professionals. All of these provisions are worthy of our suppert. and I wholeheartedly endorse the bill. Finally.