Speech #1100166144

The purpose of this bill is to extend for 5 years the program relating to a waiver of the foreign country residence requirement with respect to international medical graduates. I support this bill. The Immigration and Nationality Act allows for foreign doctors to train in the United States under the "J1" visa program. otherwise known as nonimmigrants in the "Exchange Visitor Program." This Exchange Visitor Program seeks to promote peaceful relations and mutual understanding with other countries through educational and cultural exchange programs. Accordingly. many exchange visitors. including doctors in training. are subject to a requirement that they must return to their home country to share with their countrymen the knowledge. experience. and impressions gained during their stay in the United States. Unless U.S. Customs and Immigration Service approves a waiver of this requirement. the exchange visitors must depart from the United States and live in their home country for 2 years before they are allowed to apply for an immigrant visa. permanent residence. or a new nonimmigrant status. A waiver of the 2 year foreign residency requirement is available for doctors who have trained in the United States under the J1 visa if a State or an interested Federal agency sponsors the physician exchange visitor to work in a health manpower shortage area within the State for 3 years as a nonimmigrant in H1B status (temporary worker in specialty occupation). The Secretary of Health and Human Services determines which areas have a health manpower shortage. The availability of this waiver will sunset on June 1. 2008. H.R. 5571 would extend this waiver for 5 years to ensure that areas in the United States with a shortage of doctors have an option to hire a doctor with a J1 visa for 3 years where there is no other doctor available to fill the job. I worked with Congresswoman ZOE LOFGREN to ensure that the foreign doctors who will benefit from the waiver provisions. eliminating the need for the foreign medical doctors to return to their native land. will be required to work in impoverished and underserved innercity and urban communities. I believe that this is important because Americans who need access to medical care. the poor and needy. will benefit.