Speech #1040190455

I just am wondering why we do it for some groups and not others. and it seems to me that this legislation. I hope. is going to be meaningful reform. We have another amendment that is part of the en bloc. which I bee here would require the Department of State to refund fees to Poles who were erroneously notified of their eligibility for visas but did not receive a visa. If I recall correctly. I had an amendment very similar to this. but it did not apply just to Poles. it applied to anyone who applied for a visa. But as a result of the elimination of categories of immigrants in the bill. there were a number of people who should be refunded moneys by the State Department for fees paid for something they would no longer receive. and that is an opportunity to have an immigrant emigrate to this country. If I can try to simplify what I am saying. right now. in order for someone to emigrate into this country. a fee must be paid typically by the sponsor of the immigrant. someone who says I will state here that I will be responsible for this immigrant to make sure that this person does not become a public charge as he or she wishes to enter this country. I will pay a fee to have the application for admission processed. As a result of H.R. 2202. various categories of individuals will no longer qualify for visas. siblings of U.S. citizens. For example. adult children of U.S. citizens can no longer come into the country in most cases. Yet fees were paid by U.S. citizens to get these folks. their relatives. to come into the country. Now as I understand it. that is no longer part of the legislation we are considering. Yet. in the case of one of. these en bloc amendments. we will be reimbursing fees paid by some individuals even though what we are doing in this bill is saying that they no longer qualify or because they no longer qualify for admission as immigrants in this case. We are doing this for the Poles that are mentioned in this particular amendment. Again I have no problems in doing so. because I think It is only fair that if somebody paid a fee and now the service the fee is meant to provide can no longer be rendered. then someone should get that fee reimbursed.