To add Ireland to the E-3 nonimmigrant visa program.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 7164) to add Ireland to the E-3 nonimmigrant visa program, as amended.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous materials on H.R. 7164, currently under consideration.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 7164, a bill to add Ireland to the E-3 nonimmigrant program. The bill was introduced by the gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Sensenbrenner), the former chairman of the Judiciary Committee, and is a simple bill that recognizes the unique friendship and working relationship between the United States and Ireland.

H.R. 7164 allows nationals of Ireland to be eligible to apply for unused E-3 nonimmigrant visas, subject to Ireland providing reciprocal access to U.S. nationals.

Holders of E-3 temporary work visas must be working in a specialty occupation while in the United States. A specialty occupation is one that is defined in the Immigration and Nationality Act as requiring: One, ``theoretical and practical application of a body of highly specialized knowledge;'' and, two, ``the attainment of a bachelor's or higher degree in the specific specialty, or its equivalent, as a minimum for entry into the occupation in the United States.''

The E-3 applicant must have a job offer from an employer in the U.S., and that employer must get foreign labor certification from the U.S. Department of Labor prior to filing a petition with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.

H.R. 7164 also requires that employers using Irish E-3 visa holders in their workforce are and will remain participants in good standing in the E-Verify program. This means that such employers must use E-Verify to ensure that those they employ are eligible to work in the United States.

E-3 nonimmigrant visas are currently only available to nationals of Australia and are capped at 10,500 per year. Australian nationals have not ever used all of the 10,500 authorized visas in a given year, nor have they come close to doing so. In fact, the highest number used was during fiscal year 2017 when 5,657 were issued.

H.R. 7164 provides that nationals of Ireland can utilize those visas not used by Australians in a given year. For operational purposes, the visa can be issued the following year but will be counted against the previous year's cap. The bill does not increase the number of visas authorized, and allows Australia, for whose nationals the program was originally created, to have first access to the numbers.

H.R. 7164 is a simple bill that reflects the continued friendship between Ireland and the United States. I thank the gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Sensenbrenner) for his work and his leadership on this legislation, and I urge my colleagues to support the bill.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I recognize and thank the gentleman, Mr. Neal, for his leadership, as well.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Sensenbrenner).

Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Gallagher).

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time.

In closing, I just want to also thank all the folks who were previously mentioned by my colleague, the gentleman from New York (Mr. Nadler).

This is, I think, a very good bill. It is great to see something bipartisan around here get passed; and as we are wrapping up this year and this Congress, it is good to see this good legislation being passed. I strongly encourage my colleagues to support this.

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

Mr. Speaker, I thank Mr. Chabot and Mr. Sensenbrenner, as well as Mr. Nadler, for bringing this legislation to the floor.

Indeed, it is bipartisan in nature. It is not an effort here to go beyond what the rules currently allow in terms of the cap on visas. It would allow Irish nationals to utilize those visas that have not been exhausted by Australia.

It is, as Mr. Nadler said, not a substitute for immigration reform, however. We note today that the Pew Center has released new numbers on the issue of those who, in America, are undocumented. While these two issues are unrelated, it is important to point out that we still, in this Congress, have to come up with a solution to a long-awaited problem that we recognize across the Nation, and that is what to do about undocumented citizens.

As Mr. Sensenbrenner also pointed out, I think with great accuracy, there are few stories of immigration that can be improved upon over what Irish immigration did in America. In the aftermath of an Gorta Mor, the Great Famine, that took place in the mid-1850s, more than a million people left Ireland and immigrated to the shores of the United States, and a million starved to death on the island of Ireland.

So when you consider that the population of Ireland at that time was about 8\1/2\ million people and today it is about 6 million people, it is understandable as to what that relationship has meant. And America, to its everlasting credit, land of the free and home of the brave, welcomed them.

The story that they told in succeeding generations--first, second, third generations--of which I enjoy that same privilege, it is pretty extraordinary. I call attention to that because I still think that the rest of the world desires to send many of its best to the United States.

It is still, for all of us, this notion that, today, because of the simplicity of travel, you can move back and forth. But what is, I think, a very important component of the story that we just related, when they left, whether it was in the 1850s or, in the case of one grandmother, no return, they were in with both feet. I think what we are pointing out today is that this is still an incredibly strong relationship.

I think Mr. Sensenbrenner was right on target with the commentary that he offered about the reciprocal agreement here. We are not substituting anything. We are simply saying that, for those E-3s that are not utilized, Ireland will be able to take advantage of it.

I again point out that this relationship, for as long as I can remember, has been one of the great relationships in terms of allies that we have had in the history of America.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 7164, a bill to add Ireland to the E-3 nonimmigrant visa program.

In 2005, soon after the United States and Australia finalized the Australia-U.S. Free Trade Agreement, Congress created the E-3 program for Australian nationals. That program provides up to 10,500 temporary visas, similar to H-1B visas, for Australians seeking to work in the United States in what are known as specialty occupations.

As with the H-1B program, specialty occupations are those that require ``theoretical and practical application of a body of highly specialized knowledge'' in fields such as science, engineering, and computer programming.

Australia has never used more than a fraction of the 10,500 E-3 visas that are made available each year in the program. In light of this fact, this bill would add Ireland to the program, thus allowing Irish nationals to use some of those remaining, unused visas. As amended, the bill would take the number of E-3 visas left unused by Australia in a given fiscal year and make that same number available to Irish nationals the following fiscal year.

This is a commonsense bill that recognizes the important bond we share with two of our country's closest and most steadfast allies.

I congratulate my friends, Mr. Sensenbrenner, former chairman of the Judiciary Committee, and Mr. Neal, ranking member of the Ways and Means Committee--soon to be chairman of the Ways and Means Committee--for championing this bill. They both deserve credit for working across the aisle on this issue.

I would be remiss, however, if I did not also point out the continuing need to reform our immigration system in a more comprehensive and fundamental manner. Small fixes such as this bill are fine, but this body also must find ways to come together to enact broader, more meaningful reforms of our immigration system for the good of the American people.

With that, I urge my colleagues to support the bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. Neal), the distinguished ranking member of the Ways and Means Committee.

Mr. Speaker, I have no further speakers, and I yield myself the balance of my time.

I again urge every Member on both sides of the aisle to vote for this bill. I applaud the bipartisan nature of it. I applaud Mr. Sensenbrenner and Mr. Neal and Mr. Chabot for their roles in it, and this is a useful thing to do. I urge passage of the bill.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 7164. The United States was built on the hard work and the determination of immigrants, many of them who hailed from Ireland. Through their perseverance, they have enabled this country to grow and prosper.

I believe in the value and opportunity that comes with legal immigration. I am pleased to have authored this legislation to make the process more efficient for one of our oldest allies and add to the great legacy of cultural diversity celebrated in our country.

This modest proposal would give Irish nationals the opportunity to work in the United States under the nonimmigrant visa category of the E-3 visa, previously reserved only for Australian nationals. Ireland, in the meantime, has proposed a reciprocal work visa specific to U.S. nationals so that those wanting to live and work in Ireland can move easily to do so.

The E-3 visa is one of the most efficient U.S. visa options. The applicants outside the United States may apply directly at a U.S. consulate, thus avoiding the lengthy processing time with the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. The visas are granted for 2-year periods, renewable indefinitely, and the spouses of E-3 visa holders are permitted to apply for employment authorization documents.

Currently, 10,500 E-3 visas are allocated each year, yet only half of these are used. This legislation would allow Irish nationals to apply for those visas unused by Australian nationals.

This significant addition to the U.S. immigration system will not only benefit Irish nationals seeking employment in the United States but also ease restrictions on Americans wanting to live or retire in Ireland.

In conclusion, I would say that this does not increase the number of visas that are authorized in total. It merely allows Irish nationals to apply for the visas that Australian nationals do not want to use on a year-to-year basis.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this legislation.

Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the opportunity to speak on this bipartisan legislation spearheaded by my distinguished colleague from Wisconsin.

As a Gallagher in good standing, I am glad this bill will strengthen our Nation's ties with Ireland. But just as importantly, I take a minute to recognize the value of the underlying E-3 visa program to the U.S.-Australia alliance.

The E-3 visa program was negotiated in 2005 following the conclusion of the U.S.-Australia Free Trade Agreement. The visa is designed to give highly skilled and professional Australians access to U.S. employment in fields and trades that require specialized education and training.

It is good for both the United States and Australia. About 82,000 Americans are employed by Australian businesses in the United States, for example, with an average salary of $98,000.

In just one example, the very first employee of the Movember Foundation in the United States was an Australian who came over on an E-3 visa. Movember is now one of the largest nongovernment investors in prostate cancer research and services in the world, growing its footprint here in the United States as it has created jobs while doing good.

This program is a tangible recognition of the close and enduring partnership, or mateship, as we say, between the United States and Australia, which we are celebrating the 100-year anniversary of this year.

Our alliance remains one that not only drives our prosperity but our security as well. As a pillar of a free and open Indo-Pacific, Australia is an indispensable ally in an increasingly contested region, and we would be wise to continue exploring new avenues to further strengthen our relationship.

This legislation is an important opportunity to expand our partnership with Ireland, while preserving the original intent of the E-3 visa program with Australia, and I urge my colleagues to support this bill.