Ralph Lee Abraham: “I rise to introduce the Mother Teresa Religious Workers Act. This legislation will make permanent provisions of the…”

“I rise to introduce the Mother Teresa Religious Workers Act. This legislation will make permanent provisions of the Immigration and Nationality Act that set aside 10,000 visas per year for "special immigrants." Up to 5,000 of these visas annually can be used for ministers of a religious denomination. In addition, a related provision of the law provides 5,000 visas per year to individuals working for religious organizations in "a religious vocation or occupation" or in a "professional capacity in a religious vocation or occupation." This has allowed nuns, brothers, cantors, lay preachers, religious instructors, religious counselors, missionaries, and other persons to work at their vocations or occupations for religious organizations or their affiliates. The key component of the law will expire on September 30 of this year unless Congress acts.”