IB 

Union Calendar No. 149

108TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. R. 2655

[Report No. 108–260, Part I] 

To amend and extend the Irish Peace Process Cultural and Training Program 

Act of 1998. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

JUNE 26, 2003

Mr. WALSH (for himself, Mr. KING of New York, Mr. NEAL of Massachusetts, 

Mr. CROWLEY, Mr. SWEENEY, Mr. MCDERMOTT, Mrs. MCCARTHY of 

New York, Mr. DOYLE, Mr. QUINN, Mr. MOLLOHAN, Mr. HOLDEN, Mr. 

SMITH of New Jersey, Mr. ACKERMAN, Mr. MCNULTY, Mr. ENGEL, Mr. 

PAYNE, Mr. FROST, and Mr. DUNCAN) introduced the following bill; 

which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition 

to the Committee on International Relations, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such 

provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned 

SEPTEMBER 4, 2003

Additional sponsors: Mr. LYNCH, Mr. MARKEY, Mrs. LOWEY, Mr. MCGOVERN, 

Mr. FOSSELLA, Mrs. KELLY, Mr. MCHUGH, Mr. NADLER, Mr. MURPHY, 

and Mr. FRANK of Massachusetts 

SEPTEMBER 4, 2003

Reported from the Committee on the Judiciary 

SEPTEMBER 4, 2003

Referral to the Committee on International Relations extended for a period 

ending not later than September 4, 2003

SEPTEMBER 4, 2003

Committee on International Relations discharged; committed to the Committee 

of the Whole House on the State of the Union and ordered to be printed 
2

•HR 2655 RH 

A BILL

To amend and extend the Irish Peace Process Cultural and 

Training Program Act of 1998.

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

3 SECTION 1. AMENDMENT AND EXTENSION OF IRISH PEACE 

4 PROCESS CULTURAL AND TRAINING PRO5 GRAM ACT OF 1998. 

6 (a) AMENDMENT OF PROGRAM.—

7 (1) Section 2(a)(2)(A) of the Irish Peace Proc8 ess Cultural and Training Program Act of 1998 (8 

9 U.S.C. 1101 note) is amended by adding at the end 

10 ‘‘Not more than 20 percent of participants in the 

11 program may have a degree from an institution of 

12 higher education.’’. 

13 (2) Section 101(a)(15)(Q)(ii)(I) of the Immi14 gration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 

15 1101(a)(15)(Q)(ii)(I)) is amended—

16 (A) by striking ‘‘35 years of age or young17 er having a residence’’ and inserting ‘‘21 to 35 

18 years of age, unemployed for not less than 6 

19 months, having resided for not less than 6 

20 months’’; and 

21 (B) by striking ‘‘36 months’’ and inserting 

22 ‘‘24 months’’. 
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•HR 2655 RH 

1 (3) Section 212(e) of the Immigration and Na2 tionality Act (8 U.S.C. 1182(e)) is amended by in3 serting after subsection (p) the following: 

4 ‘‘(q)(1) Except as provided in paragraph (2), no per5 son admitted under section 101(a)(15)(Q)(ii)(I) or acquir6 ing such status after admission shall be eligible to apply 

7 for an immigrant visa, or for permanent residence, or for 

8 a nonimmigrant visa under this Act until it is established 

9 that such person has resided and been physically present 

10 in the country of nationality or last residence for an aggre11 gate of at least one year following departure from the 

12 United States. 

13 ‘‘(2) The Secretary of Homeland Security may waive 

14 the requirement of such one-year foreign residence abroad 

15 if the Secretary determines that—

16 ‘‘(A) departure from the United States would 

17 impose exceptional hardship upon the alien’s spouse 

18 or child (if such spouse or child is a citizen of the 

19 United States or a lawfully resident alien); 

20 ‘‘(B) that the alien cannot return to the coun21 try of the alien’s nationality or last residence be22 cause the alien would be subject to persecution on 

23 account of race, religion, or political opinion; or 
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•HR 2655 RH 

1 ‘‘(C) the admission of the alien is in the public 

2 interest or the national interest of the United 

3 States.’’. 

4 (b) EXTENSION OF PROGRAM.—Section 2 of the Irish 

5 Peace Process Cultural and Training Program Act of 

6 1998 (8 U.S.C. 1101 note) is amended—

7 (1) in subsection (d)(1) by striking ‘‘2006,’’ 

8 and inserting ‘‘2008,’’; 

9 (2) in subsection (d)(2) by striking ‘‘2005,’’ 

10 and inserting ‘‘2011,’’; and 

11 (3) in subsection (a)(3) by striking ‘‘the third 

12 program year and for the 3 subsequent years,’’ and 

13 inserting ‘‘each program year’’. 

14 (c) TECHNICAL AND CONFORMING CHANGES.—The 

15 Irish Peace Process Cultural and Training Program Act 

16 of 1998 (8 U.S.C. 1101 note; Public Law 105–319) is 

17 amended—

18 (1) by striking ‘‘Attorney General’’ each place 

19 it appears and inserting ‘‘Secretary of Homeland Se20 curity’’; and 

21 (2) by striking ‘‘Immigration and Naturaliza22 tion Service’’ each place it appears and inserting 

23 ‘‘Department of Homeland Security’’. 

Union Calendar No. 149

108TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. R. 2655

[Report No. 108–260, Part I] 

A BILL

To amend and extend the Irish Peace Process 

Cultural and Training Program Act of 1998. 

SEPTEMBER 4, 2003

Reported from the Committee on the Judiciary 

SEPTEMBER 4, 2003

Referral to the Committee on International Relations extended for a period ending not later than September 

4, 2003

SEPTEMBER 4, 2003

Committee on International Relations discharged; committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the 

State of the Union and ordered to be printed