Statements On Introduced Bills And Joint Resolutions

Floor Speech

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Mr. HATCH. Mr. President, I rise to introduce with my colleague, Senator John Kerry, the Arts Require Timely Services, ARTS, Act.

For some time, I have been working to improve the processing of visa petitions filed by nonprofit arts organizations. Unfortunately, years of delays, errors, and unpredictability have forced some U.S.-based nonprofit arts organizations from even trying to bring international artists into the United States. We must eliminate some of the bureaucratic barriers that have been negatively affecting performing artists.

There is no doubt that nonprofit arts organizations across the country engage foreign guest artists in their orchestras, theatres, and dance and opera companies. In my home state of Utah, I am aware that many organizations that will benefit from passage of the ARTS Act, including Brigham Young University, Cache Valley Center for the Arts, The Orchestra of Southern Utah, University of Utah, Murray Symphony Orchestra, Salt Lake Symphony, and the Utah Shakespeare Festival, to name a few.

The ARTS Act would apply only to temporary, nonimmigrant visas for foreign artists visiting the United States. The legislation would require U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services to treat as a Premium Processing case, or a 15-day turn-around, free of additional charge, any nonprofit arts-related O- and P-visa petition that it fails to adjudicate within 30 days. In November 2007, the Congressional Budget Office issued a cost estimate for the ARTS Act, stating that the bill would have no significant cost to the Federal Government.

It is my hope that my colleagues will support passage of this legislation in the near future.

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