Recap of Important Pending Legislation
Posted Aug 11, 2000

Congress has recessed for the month of August 2000, and Senators and Representatives have returned to their home districts. This month can be a valuable opportunity for employers, immigrants, and concerned citizens to make our voices heard by writing to and meeting with Members of Congress and their Legislative Assistants. Express your support for the H1B bills that also provide relief from per-country green card quotas: S. 2045 in the Senate, and H.R. 3983 in the House of Representatives.

Bills are also pending to update the "registry" date and restore section 245(i) (the penalty-fee provision to enable eligible persons to complete the final stage of their green card process from the U.S. even if they have fallen out of status). The bill numbers for these issues are S.2912 and H.R. 4966, respectively. H.R. 4966, along with two other bills in the House, H.R. 5062 and H.R. 1485, seeks to ameliorate the harsh provisions of the 1996 immigration laws that make people deportable for minor offenses committed several years.

While all of the above measures have enjoyed widespread support, not much progress has been made in moving this legislation. Even the pro business H1B bills, expected by many to easily gain support and be passed, have not progressed very far. It is your obligation to inform your Congressional representatives of the importance these issues hold for your business and for all of their constituents. Please do your part, so that these Bills are placed at the top of their agenda when Congress returns to Washington in the first week of September 2000.