Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of extending the religious worker visa program. I applaud my colleagues for recognizing the importance of this provision to religious communities across America. My only reservation to the passage of this bill is the temporary nature of the extension. I believe that Congress should extend the religious worker program permanently. I believe that the Catholic Church, the Lutheran Church, the Methodist Church, the Christian Science Church, the Church of Jesus Christ and Latter Day Saints and other churches, synagogues, temples and mosques across America have much worthier work to accomplish than lobbying politicians every 3 years to allow a few thousand nuns, monks, sisters, brothers, cantors and other religious workers to enter this country.
Religious workers are among the most valuable members of our American society.
They come to America at the call of their church and expect only the opportunity to serve. The services they provide to the communities they become a part of are immeasurable. For example, religious workers are involved in caring and ministering to the sick and elderly. Think about the hospitals and local hospice care facilities across the country and the comfort those who offer spiritual solace provide. These facilities and their patients are all the better for our religious workers.