Immigration Nursing Relief Act of 1989 (H.R. 3259 (101st)) — United States

Summary

Immigration Nursing Relief Act of 1989 - Provides for adjustment to immigrant status without regard to specified numerical limitations under the Immigration and Nationality Act for an alien (and accompanying spouse and children): (1) who as of September 1, 1989, had H-1 nonimmigrant registered nurse status; (2) who has been employed in that capacity for at least three years prior to applying for status adjustment; and (3) whose continued nursing employment meets certain labor certification requirements. Provides that H-1 nurses whose visas expire December 31, 1989, shall be considered to be in legal status for 120 days after the promulgation of related Immigration and Naturalization Service regulations. Amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to establish a new procedure for the admission of nonimmigrant (H-1a) nurses. Requires such an alien: (1) to be licensed as a nurse in the country where he or she received nursing education, or to have received such education in the United States or Canada; and (2) to have passed an appropriate examination or to have a license and be otherwise eligible to practice immediately in the State of intended employment. Requires the employer-facility to attest that: (1) services are necessary to avoid substantial disruption of health care services; (2) such alien's employment will not affect similarly employed nurses' wages and working conditions; (3) such alien will be paid the prevailing wage for similarly employed nurses at the facility; (4) steps are being taken to recruit and retain U.S. citizen or immigrant nurses or that the facility is subject to an approved State plan for such purpose; (5) there is no ongoing strike or labor dispute; and (6) notice of such hiring petition has been given to the nurses' bargaining representative or conspicuously posted if no such representative exists. States that a facility shall not meet the "substantial disruption of services" requirement if it has laid off registered nurses within the previous year. Enumerates facility "nurse recruitment and retention" steps, including: (1) operating or financing training or career development programs; and (2) paying wages above local wage rates or providing salary advancement opportunities. Makes such attestations valid for one year. Permits multiple petitions to be filed on the basis of one attestation. Requires the Secretary of Labor to compile and make available in Washington, D.C., a list of facility petitions and attestations. Requires the Secretary to establish a process for the receipt, investigation, and disposition of complaints with respect to a facility's failure to comply with the terms of its attestation. Authorizes: (1) an aggrieved person or organization (including a bargaining representative) to file a complaint; and (2) the Secretary to initiate an investigation. Requires: (1) the Secretary to make a determination within 120 days of a complaint; and (2) a hearing on the complaint within 60 days of such determination. Authorizes such facility's petitions for one year. Requires the payment of back wages where appropriate. Directs the Secretary to provide for a process under which a State may submit a plan for the recruitment and retention of U.S. citizen and immigrant nurses. Establishes for H-1a alien nurses an initial admission period of up to three years, with an extension period not to exceed a total admissions period of five years (six years under extraordinary circumstances). Directs the Secretary to appoint an advisory group by January 1, 1991, with regard to: (1) the impact of the H-1a program on the nursing shortage; (2) recruitment and retention of U.S. nurses; and (3) program extension. Prohibits specified H-1 regulation changes.

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Timeline

13 September 1989
Committee
For Previous Action See H.R.1507.
Source: Committee
13 September 1989
Introduced
Referred to the House Committee on Judiciary.
Source: IntroReferral
13 September 1989
Introduced
Introduced in House
Source: IntroReferral
13 September 1989
Introduced
Introduced in House
Source: IntroReferral
3 October 1989
Committee
Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
Source: Committee
3 October 1989
Reported
Ordered to be Reported.
Source: Committee
16 October 1989
Calendars
Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 184.
Source: Calendars
16 October 1989
Reported
Reported to House by House Committee on Judiciary. H. Rept. 101-288.
Source: Committee
16 October 1989
Reported
Reported to House by House Committee on Judiciary. H. Rept. 101-288.
Source: Committee
17 October 1989
Floor
DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate.
Source: Floor
17 October 1989
Passed
On ordering a second Agreed to without objection.
Source: Floor
17 October 1989
Floor
Considered under suspension of the rules.
Source: Floor
17 October 1989
Floor
Mr. Smith (TX) demanded a second on the motion to suspend the rules.
Source: Floor
17 October 1989
Floor
Mr. Brooks moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
Source: Floor
17 October 1989
Passed
Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
Source: Floor
17 October 1989
Passed
On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote.
Source: Floor
17 October 1989
Passed
Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote.
Source: Floor
18 October 1989
Introduced
Received in the Senate and read twice and referred to the Committee on Judiciary.
Source: IntroReferral
20 October 1989
Referred
Referred to Subcommittee on Immigration and Refugee Affairs.
Source: Committee
16 November 1989
Reported
Committee on Judiciary. Ordered to be reported with amendments favorably.
Source: Committee
17 November 1989
Calendars
Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 398.
Source: Calendars
17 November 1989
Reported
Committee on Judiciary. Reported to Senate by Senator Biden with amendments. Without written report.
Source: Committee
17 November 1989
Reported
Committee on Judiciary. Reported to Senate by Senator Biden with amendments. Without written report.
Source: Committee
20 November 1989
Floor
Amendment SP 1192 proposed by Senator Humphrey for Senator Simpson.
Source: Floor
20 November 1989
Passed
Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate with amendments by Voice Vote.
Source: Floor
21 November 1989
Passed
Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
Source: ResolvingDifferences
21 November 1989
Passed
On motion that the House agree to the Senate amendments Agreed to without objection.
Source: ResolvingDifferences
21 November 1989
Passed
Resolving differences -- House actions: On motion that the House agree to the Senate amendments Agreed to without objection.
Source: NotUsed
21 November 1989
ResolvingDifferences
Mr. Morrison (CT) asked unanimous consent that the House agree to the Senate amendments.
Source: ResolvingDifferences
21 November 1989
Floor
Message on Senate action sent to the House.
Source: Floor
7 December 1989
President
Presented to President.
Source: President
7 December 1989
Floor
Measure Signed in Senate.
Source: Floor
7 December 1989
Floor
Presented to President.
Source: Floor
18 December 1989
Became law
Became Public Law No: 101-238.
Source: President
18 December 1989
Became law
Signed by President.
Source: BecameLaw
18 December 1989
President
Signed by President.
Source: President

Votes

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Versions

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Documents

5 official files

Public Law (PDF)

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Public Law (PDF)
Public Law · EN · 18 December 1989
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Passed Senate amended
summary · EN · 20 November 1989
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Reported to Senate with amendment(s)
summary · EN · 17 November 1989
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Passed House amended
summary · EN · 17 October 1989
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Introduced in House
summary · EN · 13 September 1989
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Legal framework · Immigration Nursing Relief Act of 1989 · H.R. 3259 (101st) · US

Identifier matchPROJECTS_FROM
Same us record 101-hr-3259 projected from PoliticalRepo US row.
Immigration Nursing Relief Act of 1989

Sources

PoliticalRepo is an index and interpretation layer, not the authoritative legal source.

Official source: https://www.congress.gov/bill/101st-congress/house-bill/3259
Open data entity: https://api.congress.gov/v3/bill/101/hr/3259
us · 101-hr-3259 · source updated 10 August 2026

Immigration Nursing Relief Act of 1989