Speaker. lifting the ban is largely symbolic because the authority to waive the restriction already exists and is routinely exercised. albeit on a casebycase basis. Furthermore. an alien with HIV would still be inadmissible under current HHS recommendations on communicable diseases of public health significance. and this would continue to be the case until and unless the regulations are changed. The Senate amendment includes offsets for the estimated additional costs involved with the processing of these new visas. Throughout this process. Members on both sides of the aisle have been forced to make difficult choices to arrive at a consensus that carefully balances U.S. priorities and the range of congressional concerns.