I am a cosponsor and strong supporter of this legislation, which will make permanent provisions of our immigration law that provide for special immigrant visas for religious workers sponsored by religious organizations in the United States. These visas allow religious denominations or organizations in the United States to bring in foreign nationals to perform religious work here. This modest program – which provides for up to 5000 religious immigrant visas a year – was created in the Immigration Act of 1990, and has been extended ever since. It is high time to make it permanent.

The importance of this program to America’s religious community has been demonstrated by the fact that leaders from a variety of faiths have come to Congress both this year and in past years to testify on its behalf. It is also important to note, however, that these religious workers contribute significantly not just to their religious communities, but to the community as a whole. They work in hospitals, nursing homes, and homeless shelters. They help immigrants and refugees adjust to the United States. In other words, they perform vital tasks that too often go undone.

I have worked on this issue consistently over the years. Most recently, I cosponsored a bill in 1997 that would have made this program permanent. We were forced to settle for a three-year extension of the program at that time, but it is my hope and expectation that the substantial benefit that our country has derived from this program over the last decade has proven its worthiness to all legislators, and that this bill will become law this year.