H.R.3998: To expand au pair exchange visitor programs to include the provision of in-home independent living services for adults with disabilities, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep Cooper, Jim [TN-5] (introduced 3/18/2004)
Committees: House International Relations
Latest Major Action: 3/18/2004 Referred to House committee.

Status: Referred to the House Committee on International Relations.

H.R.4011: To promote human rights and freedom in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep Leach, James A. [IA-2] (introduced 3/23/2004)
Committees: House International Relations; House Judiciary
Latest Major Action: 3/23/2004 Referred to House committee.

Status: Referred to the Committee on International Relations, and in addition to the Committee on 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.

H.R.4018: To amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to assure that immigrants do not have to wait longer for an immigrant visa as a result of a reclassification from family second preference to family first preference because of the naturalization of a parent or spouse.
Sponsor: Rep Case, Ed [HI-2] (introduced 3/23/2004)
Committees: House Judiciary
Latest Major Action: 3/23/2004 Referred to House committee.

Status: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.

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California legislatures are faced with three new laws that propose to combat immigration consultant fraud.  One bill would prohibit consultants from giving legal advice.  Another bill would make it easier for local district attorneys to shut down fraudulent operations.  The third bill would help law enforcement officers track down the consultants that break laws. 

Consultant fraud has become a large problem in California, where fraud has cost victims large amounts of money, their personal documents such as birth certificates or passports, and even deportation in some cases.  California has passed a series of laws in the past 10 years in an attempt to combat the problem.

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Senator John McCain spoke before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee regarding several immigration issues on March 23, 2004.  The Senator discussed the rising rate of illegal immigrant deaths through the U.S.-Mexico border.  He discussed the improbability of sealing all of the US borders against illegal immigration. 

The Senator also stressed the immediate need for comprehensive immigration reform that addresses current undocumented immigrants, as well as future workers who want to come to the US to work.

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Congress is working on several bills that would implement an ‘emergency fix’ to the H-2B visa shortage.  In the Senate, two draft bills are being circulated.  Senator Saxby Chambliss (R-GA) and Senator Orrin Hatch (R-UT) circulated a bill on March 25, 2004 that would allow employees who have worked for the same employer for either of the past two years to return to that employer and not be counted against the cap.  The second Senate bill, which has bipartisan support but no lead sponsor as of yet, would increase the H-2B cap by 40,000 for this fiscal year. 

In the House, a bill was introduced by Representative Bob Goodlatte (R-VA) on March 25, 2004, and more House bills are expected to be introduced soon.  The Goodlatte bill would allow employers to get the same number of H-2B employees they received last year.

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