Orrin Hatch: “I wish to introduce companion measures to two House bills that would end the barring of the spouses of `E' and `L'…”

“I wish to introduce companion measures to two House bills that would end the barring of the spouses of `E' and `L' nonimmigrant visa holders from work authorization while they are in the United States. The House of Representatives passed H.R. 2277 and H.R. 2278 with broad bipartisan support earlier this year and the Senate Judiciary Committee approved the House versions of both bills by unanimous consent earlier today. The companion to H.R. 2277 amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to authorize the husbands and wives of treaty traders or treaty investors working in the United States, or E visa holders, to work themselves. The companion to H.R. 2278 is very similar, granting employment authorization to the spouses of intracompany transfers, or L visa holders. This measure would also allow individuals to apply for L visas after six months, rather than one year, of employment with the company with which they are working in the United States. I believe that both of these bills are very reasonable and deserve the support of the Senate. Both pieces of legislation would end practices that deserve change as they currently stand. It is not right to force one spouse in a family to forgo employment simply because the other is working in the United States.”