SENATE MAJORITY LEADER SAYS VOTE ON H-1B LEGISLATION WILL COME NEXT WEEK After a week during which a final Senate vote on S. 2045, the H-1B bill, was expected, but which instead descended into partisan bickering, the final vote was postponed until Tuesday, October 3 at 10 AM (EST). After the Senate votes on the H-1B bill, it is set to vote on H.R. 3767, which would make the Visa Waiver Pilot Program permanent.
Despite the approval of cloture on the bill, a mechanism to end the proposal of amendments, the Senate continued to debate the measure, and to offer amendments. The Senate Democrats finally gave up their attempts to attach an immigration fairness bill to the H-1B legislation, but not without many speeches highlighting the need for such legislation.
While not one of the most contentious issues before Congress – there is broad bipartisan support for raising the H-1B cap, the fight over the procedure for dealing with the bill demonstrates at least in part why so few important issues have been addressed. Republicans, led by Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott (R-MS) were determined to keep any immigration measure not directly related to the H-1B program, while Democrats were equally as determined to call attention to broader immigration issues. The sort of partisan arguments that kept S. 2045 from being voted on for five months (it was approved by the Senate Judiciary Committee in April 2000), came to a head during this week’s debate. Leading Senate Democrats, including Senate Minority Leader Tom Daschle (D-SD), expressed outrage and disbelief at Republican attempts to limit debate on the bill.
While the Democrats conceded defeat in their effort to attach a Latino and immigrant fairness provision to the H-1B bill, they have not given up on their efforts to see such legislation passed. They currently hope to attach it to the Commerce, State and Justice appropriations bill, and President Clinton has threatened to veto the spending bill unless it contains a fairness provision. Seizing on this, Republicans are accusing Clinton of making policy to assist Vice President Al Gore in his presidential bid, but Democrats maintain that the issue is one of fairness. According to statements by Senators when they gave up the effort to attach the fairness bill to H-1B legislation, there are sufficient votes to uphold a presidential veto. If vetoed, Congress could be forced to return after the election to pass it, as funding bills are the only legislation it must pass. < Back | Next > Disclaimer: This newsletter is provided as a public service and not intended to establish an attorney client relationship. Any reliance on information contained herein is taken at your own risk. | 
