posted 03-18-2003 06:03 AM               

Title: A bill to authorize the issuance of immigrant visas to, and the admission to the United States for permanent residence of, certain scientists, engineers, and technicians who have worked in Iraqi weapons of mass destruction programs.

Sponsor: Sen Biden Jr., Joseph R. [DE] (introduced 1/23/2003)

Latest Major Action: 1/30/2003 Senate preparation for floor.

Status: Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders.
Calendar No. 9.

SUMMARY AS OF:
1/30/2003--Reported to Senate, without amendment.

Iraqi Scientists Immigration Act of 2003 - Amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to provide for the nonimmigrant admission of an alien (and accompanying family members or relatives) who the Attorney General determines, in coordination with the Secretary of State, the Director of Central Intelligence and other appropriate officials, and in the Attorney General's unreviewable discretion, is an individual: (1) who has worked at any time in an Iraqi weapons of mass destruction program; (2) who is in possession of critical and reliable information concerning any such Iraqi program; (3) who is willing to provide, or has provided, such information to the United States or to United Nations or International Atomic Energy Agency inspectors; (4) who will be or has been placed in danger as a result of providing such information; and (5) whose admission would be in the public interest or in the interest of national security.

Limits such entrants to 500 aliens.

Requires such an alien, in order to be admitted and remain in the United States, to: (1) report to the Attorney General concerning his or her whereabouts and activities; (2) not be convicted of any criminal offense punishable by a term of imprisonment of one year or more after the date of admission or grant of status; (3) have waived rights to contest, other than on the basis of an application for withholding of removal or for protection under the Convention Against Torture, any action for removal instituted before the alien obtains lawful permanent resident status; and (4) cooperate fully with all information requests, including information concerning any Iraqi program to produce or deliver weapons of mass destruction.

Authorizes the Attorney General, in coordination with the Secretary of State and the Director of Central Intelligence, to adjust the status of such an alien (and family members) to permanent resident status.

Authorizes the Attorney General to waive the inadmissability of such an alien for reasons of public interest or national security.

Amends the Defense Against Weapons of Mass Destruction Act of 1996 to revise the definition of "weapon of mass destruction" to replace "disease organism" with "biological agent, toxin, or vector."

I know it's not a new concept but..
Any thoughts on this from the gallery? Just wondering...

posted 03-18-2003 06:21 AM               

S.47

Title: A bill to terminate operation of the Extremely Low Frequency Communication System of the Navy.

Sponsor: Sen Feingold, Russell D. [WI] (introduced 1/7/2003)

Latest Major Action: 1/7/2003 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services.

SUMMARY AS OF:
1/7/2003--Introduced.
Directs the Secretary of the Navy to terminate operation of the Extremely Low Frequency Communication System while maintaining the infrastructure necessary for its resumption.