Pascrell Praises Partner with Korea Act

Press Release

U.S. Rep. Bill Pascrell, Jr. (D-NJ-09) celebrated reintroduction of the Partner with Korea Act, bipartisan legislation that encourages greater ties between American and Korean businesses. This legislation directly supports the Biden administration's efforts to deepen relations with South Korea and its introduction precedes the May 21 summit between President Biden and South Korean President Moon Jae-in.

"The partnership between the United States and South Korea is vital to world peace and progress. This legislation provides an important opportunity to build on that partnership and create new opportunities for American and Korean businesses, including here in northern New Jersey," said Rep. Pascrell, a cosponsor of the Partner with Korea Act. "I'm proud to support the Partner with Korea Act because it will bolster the crucial relationship between our two countries for years to come."

The Partner with Korea Act would create an allotment of 15,000 E-4 highly skilled work visas for Korean nationals with specialized education and expertise, provided that potential employers can ensure the visa holders are not hired for positions that American workers could fill. Similar visa allotments were created following our free trade agreements with other countries, including Australia and Singapore.

Supporting the American-Korean partnership remains one of Rep. Pascrell's top priorities in the Congress. In November, he helped pass H.Res. 809, a House resolution expressing the importance of the United States alliance with the Republic of Korea and the contributions of Korean Americans in the United States, and H.Res. 1012, a resolution marking the positive growth and evolution of the U.S.-Korea partnership since 1950. H.Res. 809 and H.Res. 1012 were both approved by voice vote. In March 2020, Rep. Pascrell held a press conference with community leaders in Palisades Park to denounce racist stigmas being associated with COVID-19. Pascrell also cosponsored and voted in favor of Rep. Grace Meng's (D-NY) resolution denouncing anti-Asian sentiment that has occurred since the outbreak of the coronavirus. Pascrell also co-sponsored legislation to combat hate crimes relating to COVID-19.

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