On April 29, 2004, the US House of Representatives held a hearing on the Diversity Visa program.  Testimonies were given by Anne W. Patterson Deputy Inspector General, Department of State and Steven A. Camarota, Director of Research, Center for Immigration Studies. Also on April 29th, the House held a hearing on transportation and homeland security.

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A press conference will be held May 4 concerning the Democratic Comprehensive Immigration Reform Bill to be introduced by Senator Edward Kennedy, Representative Bob Menendez and Representative Luis Guiterrez next week.  This is a legislative proposal that, when implemented, will make legality the prevailing norm in the US immigration system.

The bill has four parts.  It reduces the years of family separation caused by a backlogged bureaucracy and restrictive laws and it gives immigrants who are in the U.S., working, paying taxes and learning English a chance to earn legal residency over time.  It also reduces exploitation and downward wage pressures by creating a worker visa program that protects the wages and working conditions of U.S. workers and provides equal rights to immigrant workers admitted in the future to fill available jobs.  The press conference will be at La Fuente Leaning Center in Austin, TX.

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Other bills recently introduced include the following:

H.R.4245 : To amend title 36, United States Code, to grant a Federal charter to the Irish American Cultural Institute.
Sponsor: Rep Walsh, James T. [NY-25] (introduced 4/28/2004)      

Committees: House Judiciary
Latest Major Action: 4/28/2004 Referred to House committee.

Status: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.

For a review of all the immigration bills that have been recently introduced, visit our legislative chart at www.visalaw.com/advocacy.html.