Adding Ireland to E-3 Nonimmigrant Visa Program

Floor Speech

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Mr. CHABOT. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 7164) to add Ireland to the E-3 nonimmigrant visa program, as amended.

The Clerk read the title of the bill.

The text of the bill is as follows: H.R. 7164

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Mr. CHABOT. 7164, currently under consideration.

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Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 7164, a bill to add Ireland to the E-3 nonimmigrant program. The bill was introduced by the gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Sensenbrenner), the former chairman of the Judiciary Committee, and is a simple bill that recognizes the unique friendship and working relationship between the United States and Ireland.

H.R. 7164 allows nationals of Ireland to be eligible to apply for unused E-3 nonimmigrant visas, subject to Ireland providing reciprocal access to U.S. nationals.

Holders of E-3 temporary work visas must be working in a specialty occupation while in the United States. A specialty occupation is one that is defined in the Immigration and Nationality Act as requiring: One, ``theoretical and practical application of a body of highly specialized knowledge;'' and, two, ``the attainment of a bachelor's or higher degree in the specific specialty, or its equivalent, as a minimum for entry into the occupation in the United States.''

The E-3 applicant must have a job offer from an employer in the U.S., and that employer must get foreign labor certification from the U.S. Department of Labor prior to filing a petition with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.

H.R. 7164 also requires that employers using Irish E-3 visa holders in their workforce are and will remain participants in good standing in the E-Verify program. This means that such employers must use E-Verify to ensure that those they employ are eligible to work in the United States.

E-3 nonimmigrant visas are currently only available to nationals of Australia and are capped at 10,500 per year. Australian nationals have not ever used all of the 10,500 authorized visas in a given year, nor have they come close to doing so. In fact, the highest number used was during fiscal year 2017 when 5,657 were issued.

H.R. 7164 provides that nationals of Ireland can utilize those visas not used by Australians in a given year. For operational purposes, the visa can be issued the following year but will be counted against the previous year's cap. The bill does not increase the number of visas authorized, and allows Australia, for whose nationals the program was originally created, to have first access to the numbers.

H.R. 7164 is a simple bill that reflects the continued friendship between Ireland and the United States. I thank the gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Sensenbrenner) for his work and his leadership on this legislation, and I urge my colleagues to support the bill.

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Mr. CHABOT. Mr. Speaker, I recognize and thank the gentleman, Mr. Neal, for his leadership, as well.

In closing, I just want to also thank all the folks who were previously mentioned by my colleague, the gentleman from New York (Mr. Nadler).

This is, I think, a very good bill. It is great to see something bipartisan around here get passed; and as we are wrapping up this year and this Congress, it is good to see this good legislation being passed. I strongly encourage my colleagues to support this.

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