Political Quotes

“today, Senator Hatch and I are reintroducing the Arts Require Timely Service Act or ARTS Act. This bipartisan measure would assist nonprofit arts organizations in obtaining visas for visiting foreign artists. For many renowned artists abroad hoping to share their talent with American audiences, our visa system is often inconsistent and unreliable. Although current law establishes a specific processing period for artist visas, petitioners regularly confront prolonged and uncertain wait times. This delay and uncertainty carries great costs for the nonprofit organizations that seek to bring foreign artists to American audiences. While expedited visa processing is available, many of these organizations are unable to afford those fees, and the resulting delays in regular processing lead to interruptions and cancellations in performance schedules. Ultimately, the inefficiencies in obtaining foreign artist visas stifle the promotion of international cultural exchange and impede the mission of great American cultural institutions. The ARTS Act addresses these challenges by requiring the Secretary of Homeland Security to provide expedited processing services, without a fee, if an O- or P- artist visa is not adjudicated within a 14-day time frame, and the petition is filed by or on behalf of a nonprofit organization.…”