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[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 117 (Thursday, August 2, 2012)]
[Senate]
[Pages S6006-S6007]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

                  REAUTHORIZING CERTAIN VISA PROGRAMS

  Mr. REID. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Judiciary 
Committee be discharged from further consideration of S. 3245 and that 
the Senate proceed to its immediate consideration.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the bill by title.
  The assistant legislative read as follows:

       A bill (S. 3245) to permanently reauthorize the EB-5 
     Regional Center Program, the E-Verify Program, the Special 
     Immigrant Nonminister Religious Worker Program, and the 
     Conrad State 30 J-1 Visa Waiver Program.

  Without objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the bill.
  Mr. LEAHY. Mr. President, today, the Senate worked together to 
advance bipartisan legislation that Senator Grassley and I introduced, 
and I thank all Senators for their support. I am very pleased that the 
Senate has agreed to pass this important legislation as it has been 
amended. I especially commend Senator Grassley, Senator Hatch, Senator 
Conrad, and Senator Schumer for their collaboration. And I thank 
Senator Menendez for working with us to get this done in the Senate.
  This legislation contains extensions for four long-standing 
immigration programs for another 3 years. These programs, last 
authorized in the fiscal year 2010 Homeland Security Appropriations 
law, are set to expire on September 30, 2012. Today's actions are a 
step toward avoiding that result, and maintaining the progress and 
benefits that these programs provide to many American communities and 
constituencies.
  A program that I have long supported with Senators on both sides of 
aisle, the EB-5 Regional Center Program, has brought tens of thousands 
of jobs and billions in capital investment to communities across the 
United States at no cost to the taxpayer. This program represents one 
small corner of our overall immigration system, yet it results in 
enormous benefits for so many communities, including Vermont, where our 
Governors across administrations and business leaders have put it to 
use to make Vermont a better place for its citizens. The economic 
transformation we have seen in some Vermont communities as the direct 
result of this program is profound. Over the last several years, 
Vermonters who might have been out of work in a struggling economy 
found themselves working to build up Vermont companies, building 
Vermont products, and supporting economic activity in their 
communities. And so today, business leaders and entrepreneurs in 
Vermont, along with Vermont's Governor Peter Shumlin and his economic 
development team will continue to have this tool to help raise the 
capital Vermont needs to continue its innovation and economic growth.
  Job creation and capital investment in America is something I know we 
can all support, and today I am proud to say we have done just that. I 
want to give my thanks to the Association to Invest in the U.S.A., the 
American Immigration Lawyers Association, and all of the entrepreneurs 
and businesses large and small across the United States that have 
realized the economic benefits of this program and that have so 
strongly supported my efforts.
  The bill we pass today also continues programs important to Senator 
Hatch and Senator Conrad. Today we take a step toward carrying on 
Senator Conrad's program to encourage foreign doctors trained in the 
United States to practice medicine in medically underserved rural 
areas. And today we move to continue Senator Hatch's program to give 
United States religious institutions the ability to invite foreign 
citizens of shared faith to their communities to carry out good works 
and to help others.
  And this legislation reauthorizes the E-Verify work authorization 
program, which I know is very important to the Judiciary Committee's 
ranking member and other Senators. This program gives American 
employers a tool to ensure that those they hire are legally authorized 
to work in the United States. Yet it maintains its status as a 
voluntary program for employers, and maintains that choice for our 
businesses large and small to participate if they choose.
  I regret that it has been such a long road for us to get to this 
point today. These measures should be the easy ones. The politics of 
immigration continue to make our progress difficult not only on the 
broader measures that America needs, but on the smaller ones that 
Congress has supported for many years. So I am pleased the Senate has

[[Page S6007]]

acted in support of all of these programs today. I would have liked to 
see these programs made permanent after the many years they have been 
in existence they should be. But I also understand that with 
permanence, the Senate should look at ways to improve them where 
possible so that they are more secure and more effective. I am prepared 
to do that.
  Though we take a small step forward today with these 
reauthorizations, I remain as committed today to tackle comprehensive 
immigration reform as I was when I supported President Bush in 2006 and 
2007 in his efforts to make real change in our laws. I expect we will 
be there again soon and I look forward to the day we will once again 
begin the effort to strengthen and protect our entire immigration 
system.
  Mr. REID. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that a Leahy-
Grassley substitute amendment, which is at the desk, be agreed to; the 
bill, as amended, be read a third time and passed; that a Leahy-
Grassley amendment to the title, which is also at the desk, be agreed 
to; the motions to reconsider be laid upon the table with no 
intervening action or debate; and any statements related to the bill be 
printed in the Record.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The amendment (No. 2773) was agreed to as follows:

                (Purpose: In the nature of a substitute)

       Strike all after the enacting clause and insert the 
     following:

     SECTION 1. REAUTHORIZATION OF EB-5 REGIONAL CENTER PROGRAM.

       Section 610 of the Departments of Commerce, Justice, and 
     State, the Judiciary, and Related Agencies Appropriations 
     Act, 1993 (8 U.S.C. 1153 note) is amended--
       (1) by striking ``pilot'' each place such term appears; and
       (2) in subsection (b), by striking ``September 30, 2012'' 
     and inserting ``September 30, 2015''.

     SEC. 2. REAUTHORIZATION OF E-VERIFY.

       Section 401(b) of the Illegal Immigration Reform and 
     Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996 (8 U.S.C. 1324a note) is 
     amended by striking ``September 30, 2012'' and inserting 
     ``September 30, 2015''.

     SEC. 3. REAUTHORIZATION OF SPECIAL IMMIGRANT NONMINISTER 
                   RELIGIOUS WORKER PROGRAM.

       Section 101(a)(27)(C)(ii) of the Immigration and 
     Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1101(a)(27)(C)(ii)) is amended--
       (1) in subclause (II), by striking ``September 30, 2012'' 
     and inserting ``September 30, 2015''; and
       (2) in subclause (III), by striking ``September 30, 2012'' 
     and inserting ``September 30, 2015''.

     SEC. 4. REAUTHORIZATION OF CONRAD STATE 30 J-1 VISA WAIVER 
                   PROGRAM.

       Section 220(c) of the Immigration and Nationality Technical 
     Corrections Act of 1994 (8 U.S.C. 1182 note) is amended by 
     striking ``September 30, 2012'' and inserting ``September 30, 
     2015''.

     SEC. 5. NO AUTHORITY FOR NATIONAL IDENTIFICATION CARD.

       Nothing in this Act may be construed to authorize the 
     planning, testing, piloting, or development of a national 
     identification card.
  The amendment (No. 2774) was agreed to, as follows:

                     (Purpose: To amend the title)

       Amend the title so as to read: ``A bill to extend by 3 
     years the authorization of the EB-5 Regional Center Program, 
     the E-Verify Program, the Special Immigrant Nonminister 
     Religious Worker Program, and the Conrad State 30 J-1 Visa 
     Waiver Program.''.
  The bill (S. 3245) was ordered to be engrossed for a third reading, 
was read the third time, and passed.

                          ____________________
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