To allow otherwise eligible Israeli nationals to receive E-2 nonimmigrant visas if similarly situated United States nationals are eligible for similar nonimmigrant status in Israel.

Madam Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 3992, a bill that places Israel on the list of countries eligible to receive E 2 treaty investor visas, and I yield myself as much time as I may consume.

I would like to begin by thanking Chairman Smith for his strong support of this bipartisan legislation and for moving it quickly through the Judiciary Committee and to the floor. I also want to thank, along with Chairman Smith, Chairman Gallegly and Ranking Member Lofgren of the Immigration Subcommittee, as well as Chairman Ros-Lehtinen of the Foreign Affairs Committee, for their support and authorship of this legislation.

This legislation will encourage further investment by Israeli business leaders in the United States and lead to the creation of more jobs for American workers. The scope of the legislation is narrow, but at a time when so many Americans are looking for work and families are struggling to make ends meet, every little bit helps.

Israel is one of our closest allies and a leading investor in the U.S. economy.

H.R. 3992 will further strengthen the bonds between our two countries while helping to create U.S. jobs.

There are many hundreds of Israeli companies present in the United States and hundreds of U.S. companies doing business in Israel. E 2 treaty investor visas will enable the business communities in both countries to expand their bilateral investment flow.

Currently, there are over 75 countries whose nationals are eligible for E 2 treaty investor visas. These nations range from Albania to Togo to the United Kingdom. This bill adds merely one country, which is already a significant business partner and contributor to our economic strength. We should be doing everything we can to bring additional Israeli innovations and technologies to the United States.

Israel is an incubator of entrepreneurship, already a global leader in security and defense technologies, medicine, agriculture, and clean energy. Our Nation will benefit greatly from bringing their innovations and scientific advancements to our shores; it would spur investment and introduce new products to the U.S. market.

Recently, a Tel-Aviv biotechnology company developed an advanced cell therapy product that has been used in Israel to achieve a drastic reduction of the mortality rate in patients with deep wound infections. The company invested in an FDA-approved facility in the United States that is engaged in the clinical production of cells.

This Israeli biotech company needs to temporarily transfer one of their executives to the United States to develop, direct, and to oversee local manufacturing to ensure a successful operation. An E 2 treaty investor visa would facilitate this process and allow other Israeli entrepreneurs to explore similar business opportunities with the confidence and assurance that they will be able to monitor their investments.

By passing this bill, Israeli investors are one step closer to expanding their business to our country and creating jobs for American workers. Israel is a trusted friend and a special ally, and this legislation expands business opportunities that will provide economic benefits for both countries. I urge my colleagues to support its passage.

Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that the remarks of the ranking member of the Immigration Subcommittee, Ms. Lofgren, be included in the Record.

I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Conyers), the ranking member of the Judiciary Committee.

Madam Speaker, a parliamentary inquiry.

I would like to introduce the entire statement of Ranking Member Conyers and subcommittee Ranking Member Lofgren into the Record. I am unclear whether I am able to do that at this time.

Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 3992) to allow otherwise eligible Israeli nationals to receive E 2 nonimmigrant visas if similarly situated United States nationals are eligible for similar nonimmigrant status in Israel.

Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous materials on H.R. 3992 currently under consideration.

Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

H.R. 3992 is legislation that was introduced by our colleague, Howard Berman, which I have cosponsored, and I appreciate his leadership on this issue. The Judiciary Committee approved this legislation by voice vote. The bill adds Israel to the list of countries eligible for E 2 visas.

E 2 visas are temporary visas available for foreign investors. A foreign national may be admitted initially for a period of 2 years under an E 2 visa and can apply for extensions in 2-year increments. The U.S. has entered into treaties of commerce that contain language similar to the E 2 visas since at least 1815, when we entered into a Convention to Regulate Commerce with the United Kingdom.

Currently, the nationals of over 75 countries are eligible for E 2 status, from Albania to the Ukraine. In fiscal year 2010, over 25,000 aliens, including dependents, were granted E 2 visas.

In the past, countries became eligible for the E 2 program through treaties signed with the U.S. However, in 2003, the Judiciary Committee reached an understanding with the U.S. Trade Representative that, from now on, no immigration provisions were to be included in future trade agreements. As a result, specific legislation would be required to add countries to the E 2 program.

In order to qualify for an E 2 visa, an investor has to have a controlling interest in and demonstrate that they will develop and direct the enterprise. In addition, the investor has to invest and put at risk a substantial amount of capital. This is measured by a proportionality test: the higher the cost of the business, the lower the proportion of its total value the investment has to represent. In addition, the investment has to be large enough to ensure the investor's financial commitment to the enterprise and that the investor will successfully develop and direct it.

I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 3992, and I again thank my colleague, Congressman Berman of California, for introducing a commonsense bill that helps spur job creation and economic growth here at home and also invest in our relationship with one of our closest allies. The investments in business enterprises fostered by this bill benefit the economies of both the United States and Israel, and they also will create jobs and strengthen the already strong friendship between the United States and Israel.

Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Parliamentary Inquiry

Madam Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

I thank the gentleman for yielding.

I'm glad that we can make this change of bringing together these deserving countries. I hope the bipartisan efforts coming from the Committee on the Judiciary, from both Chairman Smith and from senior member Howard Berman, will be a foundation on which to consider additional immigration reforms, reforms that are desperately needed to help families and businesses across this country.

I rise today in support of H.R. 3992, a bipartisan proposal that would make Israel eligible to participate in the E 2 ``Treaty Investor'' visa program, which is now available to 79 other countries.

Although larger reform of our immigration laws has remained elusive, there are small places where we can work across the aisle to pass commonsense legislation and achieve incremental, but important, results.

H.R. 3992--introduced by my friend, Representative Howard Berman, along with Judiciary Chairman Lamar Smith, Foreign Affairs Chairwoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, and Immigration Subcommittee Ranking Member Zoe Lofgren--is just such a bill.

This bipartisan bill allows citizens of Israel to come to the United States on E 2 visas for ``treaty investors'' if those individuals make substantial investments in businesses in the United States. And, those visas would only be available if Israel provides similar visas to U.S. citizens seeking to invest in businesses in Israel.

As I just mentioned, the E 2 visa program is currently available to citizens of 79 other countries. This list includes our closest allies and trading partners, including the United Kingdom, Canada, Mexico, Japan, Jordan, and South Korea. And it also includes countries that are perhaps less obvious, such as Pakistan, Honduras, Liberia, and Iran.

With a population of less than 8 million people, Israel is the United States' 22nd largest export market. Yet Israel is not currently eligible for E 2 visas. By expanding eligibility to Israeli citizens, and by Israel's expansion of similar visas to U.S. investors, we should see an increase in trade and investment beneficial to both nations.

I am glad that we can make this change for Israel and I look forward to working with Howard Berman and Chairman Smith to afford this same opportunity to perhaps additional, deserving countries.

I also hope today's bipartisan efforts will provide a foundation to consider additional immigration reforms--reforms that are desperately needed to help businesses and families in my district in Michigan and across the country.

I thank Mr. Berman for introducing this bill. And I thank Chairman Smith and Chairwoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen of the Foreign Affairs Committee for their support of this important piece of legislation.

I urge my colleagues to support this legislation.

Madam Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 3992. Introduced by my friend and colleague from California, Howard Berman, this bipartisan bill will allow Israeli nationals who want to make substantial investments and create jobs in the United States to obtain E 2 ``treaty investor'' visas, if the Government of Israel extends an equivalent status to U.S. citizens.

An E 2 visa is a temporary, nonimmigrant visa that permits foreign investors to temporarily live and work in the U.S. if they make a substantial investment in an enterprise in the United States. Nationals of 79 countries are now eligible for E 2 visa status, including almost all of the United States' allies and trading partners.

Yet Israel, one of our closest and dearest allies, is not on the list.

Since April 3, 1954, Israel has been eligible for E 1 visas through the E 1 ``treaty trader'' program, which makes temporary visas available to employees of firms engaged in substantial trade between our two countries. These visas helped increase trade between our two nations, which saw trade exceeding $36 billion in 2009. In 2009, Israel was the company to invest cash and inventory into a medical equipment company based in Massachusetts.

The E 2 visa program would create an incentive for these investments, and many others. Those investments in the United States will benefit both countries economically, helping to spur economic growth and job creation. And all of this with one of our country's closest and most steadfast allies. This bill is essentially a no-brainer.

It is not easy these days to find common ground on immigration issues. Mr. Berman deserves a good deal of credit for finding an area where we can find such common ground and for working with our Republican colleagues to make this a bipartisan bill. I want to extend my thanks to him for identifying this deficiency in our current immigration law, crafting a smart solution and then marshaling broad support for its adoption. Our country will be more prosperous, as will Israel, as a result of his efforts.

I also thank Chairman Smith and Chairwoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen of the Foreign Affairs Committee for their support of this important piece of legislation.

I urge my colleagues to support the bill.

Mr. Speaker, on Monday, March 19, 2012, due to an unexpected flight

delay in Chicago, Illinois that prevented my travel, I was unable to cast my vote for roll Number 111.

Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea'' on H.R. 3992 which passed by an overwhelming bipartisan vote of 371 0. I believe by allowing our allies, such as Israel, to invest in businesses in the United States, we are encouraging job creation and bringing more innovative ideas that will benefit all Americans.

Currently, citizens in 75 countries are eligible to apply for E 2 visas which are non-immigrant visas valid for up to two years and allow visa holders to oversee businesses in which they have considerable capital invested. Prior to 2003, countries could become eligible if specified in trade agreements but now separate legislation is required to add countries to the program.

Countries eligible for E 2 visas span from Albania to Pakistan to the United Kingdom and in Fiscal Year 2010, more than 25,000 E 2 visas were granted. Israel has a reciprocal program allowing United States investors the same ability. E 2 visas invest in our economy and foster working relationships with other countries. Adding Israel to this list will only continue these efforts.

Again, had my flight from Chicago to Washington, DC had not been delayed, I would have voted in support of H.R. 3992.