Legislative Update

The following bills were recently introduced in the Congress:

  • S.236, sponsored by Senator Bill Nelson [FL] (introduced 1/29/2003), would require background checks of alien flight school applicants without regard to the maximum certificated weight of the aircraft for which they seek training, and to require a report on the effectiveness of the requirement.
    Latest Major Action: 1/29/2003 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.

<http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/t2GPO/http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/getdoc.cgi?dbname=108_cong_bills&docid=f:s236is.txt.pdf>

 

  • H.R.1353, sponsored by Representative Susan Davis (introduced 3/19/2003 ), would authorize the Port Passenger Accelerated Service System (PortPASS) as a permanent program for land border inspection under the Immigration and Nationality Act.
    Latest Major Action    : 3.19.2003: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
  • H.R.1333, sponsored by Representative Frank Pallone, Jr. [NJ] (introduced 3/18/2003), would clarify the citizenship eligibility for certain members of the Tohono O'odham Nation of Arizona, and for other purposes.
    Latest Major Action: 3/18/2003 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.

http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/t2GPO/http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/getdoc.cgi?dbname=108_cong_bills&docid=f:h1333ih.txt.pdf

 

  • H.R.1275, sponsored by Representative Martin Frost [TX] (introduced 3/13/2003 ), would amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to change the requirements for naturalization to citizenship through service in the Armed Forces of the United States .
    Latest Major Action: 3/13/2003 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.

http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/t2GPO/http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/getdoc.cgi?dbname=108_cong_bills&docid=f:h1275ih.txt.pdf

 

  • H.R.1238, sponsored by Representative Rick Larsen [WA] (introduced 3/12/2003), would authorize the Attorney General to carry out a program, known as the Northern Border Prosecution Initiative, to provide funds to northern border States to reimburse county and municipal governments for costs associated with certain criminal activities, and for other purposes.
    Latest Major Action: 3/12/2003 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.

 

http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/t2GPO/http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/getdoc.cgi?dbname=108_cong_bills&docid=f:h1238ih.txt.pdf

 

 

  • H.R.300, sponsored by Representative Peter T. King, [NY] (introduced 1/8/2003 ), would provide that Executive Order 13166 shall have no force or effect, and to prohibit the use of funds for certain purposes.
    Latest Major Action: 1/8/2003 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Government Reform.

 

http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/t2GPO/http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/getdoc.cgi?dbname=108_cong_bills&docid=f:h300ih.txt.pdf

 

  • H.R.322, sponsored Representative Edolphus Towns [NY-10] (introduced 1/8/2003), would amend title XIX of the Social Security Act to assure coverage for legal immigrant children and pregnant women under the Medicaid Program and the State children's health insurance program (SCHIP).
     Latest Major Action: 2/3/2003 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.

 

http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/t2GPO/http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/getdoc.cgi?dbname=108_cong_bills&docid=f:h322ih.txt.pdf

 

  • H.R.687, sponsored by Representative Elton Gallegly [CA] (introduced 2/11/2003), would prohibit the Federal Government from accepting a form of identification issued by a foreign government, except for a passport that is accepted for such a purpose on the date of enactment of this Act.
    Latest Major Action: 2/11/2003 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the Committee on Government Reform, and in addition to the Committees on House Administration, and the Judiciary, 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.

 

http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/t2GPO/http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/getdoc.cgi?dbname=108_cong_bills&docid=f:h687ih.txt.pdf

 

  • H.R.690, sponsored Representative Luis V. Gutierrez [IL-4] (introduced 2/11/2003), would  amend title XIX of the Social Security Act to provide for coverage under the Medicaid Program of organ transplant procedures as an emergency medical procedure for certain alien children.
    Latest Major Action: 2/26/2003 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.

 

http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/t2GPO/http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/getdoc.cgi?dbname=108_cong_bills&docid=f:h690ih.txt.pdf

 

  • H.R.1071, sponsored Representative Silvestre Reyes [TX] (introduced 3/4/2003 ), would establish the Southwest Regional Border Authority.
    Latest Major Action: 3/4/2003 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, and in addition to the Committee on Financial Services, 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.

 

http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/t2GPO/http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/getdoc.cgi?dbname=108_cong_bills&docid=f:h1071ih.txt.pdf

 

  • H.R.1088, sponsored by Representative Henry Bonilla [TX-23] (introduced 3/5/2003 ), would enhance the capacity of organizations working in the United States-Mexico border region to develop affordable housing and infrastructure and to foster economic opportunity in the colonias.
    Latest Major Action: 3/5/2003 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the Committee on Financial Services, and in addition to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, 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.

 

http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/t2GPO/http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/getdoc.cgi?dbname=108_cong_bills&docid=f:h1088ih.txt.pdf

 

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To see what other immigration-related legislation is pending in Congress, visit our legislative chart at www.visalaw.com/advocacy.html.

 

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.