Madam Speaker. I rise today in support of H.R. 4293. the Irish Peace Process Cultural and Training Program Act of 1998. which is designed to assist Northern Ireland in its difficult transition to a peacetime economy and a more stable society. As its centerpiece. this legislation would create a temporary nonimmigrant visa program targeted at providing disadvantaged. workingage individuals from Northern Ireland and the Border Counties of Ireland the opportunity to develop practical job training and work experence in the United States. While living and working here. these individuals would also be exposed to training in conflict resolution and the experience of coexisting in a diverse. multicultural society. The program would provide 12.000 visas over a 3 year period for these designated individuals. with a maximum of 4.000 such visas extended per year. These individuals would then return to Ireland with their newly acquired skills. Madam Speaker. now that we have such an encouraging start. we should do all that we can to nurture the Irish Peace Process.
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visa visas