Speech #1050101342

But I appeal to you. as chairman of the authorizing subcommittee for the District of Columbia. to join me in voting for this budget bill so we can give the Nations Capital a chance to survive as a city. I am pleased that the Victims of Communism Relief Act of 1997 is incorporated in this bill and will become law. The agreement provides that Nicaraguans and Cubans who entered the United States prior to December 1. 1995. will be made eligible for lawful permanent residence provided they apply prior to Guatemalans and Salvadorans. who filed for asylum prior to April 1. 1990. and members of the ABC class. will have their cases reviewed under the less onerous rules in existence before the 1996 Immigration Act [IIRIRA] went into effect. In addition. battered spouses and children in proceedings prior to April 1. 1997. will be processed under the preIIRIRA rules. Guatemalans and Salvadorans will have their adjustments offset by reductions in the diversity and unskillednonagriculturalworker programs. which will not exceed 5.000 in each annually. All pending approved petitions for unskilled worker visas will be permitted to adjust under the current 10.000 cap. Members of the defined categories of Central AmericansSalvadorans and Guatemalanswhose cases are under the jurisdiction of the postApril 1 rules. will have their claims for cancellation of removal adjudicated under the more generous standard of 7 years continuous residence and extreme hardship. not subject to the 4.000person cap. All Guatemalans and Salvadorans who meet the eligibility requirements stated above will be exempted from the stop time rule. as interpreted by the Board of Immigration Claims NJB ruling. Individuals not within these categories will be subject to the stoptime rule. Refugees from the former Warsaw Pact nations will have their cases governed according to the same rules which will apply for Guatemalans and Salvadorans. Mr. Speaker. many Central Americans have made a positive impact in our community in northern Virginia.