NATIONAL RESTAURANT ASSOCIATION CALLS UPON CONGRESS TO PROVIDE FAIRNESS TO CURRE

The National Restaurant Association today weighed in on the immigration reform debate by calling for Congress to pass three specific bills providing fairness to many immigrants who are currently working in this country but are trapped in a legal and bureaucratic maze.

"Histo rically, many immigrants have entered this country and begun restaurants or other small businesses. The restaurant industry has long and proudly provided career opportunities to immigrants. One needs only to walk down the street to see the vast array of ethnic cuisine prevalent in this country," said Steven C. Anderson, president and chief executive officer of the National Restaurant Association.

"But there are many immigrants working in our industry now who are trapped in a legal maze created by unfair treatment under the law. There are several steps Congress can take to provide fairness to these immigrants.

"The larger hospitality industry, like other industries, faces many challenges that accompany a growing global economy. For these reasons, it is incumbent upon Congress to act now to stabilize the work force," he added. The restaurant industry is the nation's largest private sector employer, providing 11 million people employment opportunities. And the restaurant industry employs 1.4 million immigrants - more than any other industry.

The Association is backing three immigration reform measures:

* Correct the registry date. Nearly 15 years ago, Congress enacted a legalization program that the INS, through both inaction and regulation, refused to allow many qualified immigrants from using. S. 2407 and H.R. 4172 would correct this injustice.

* Restore 245 (I). Since 1998, families have been separated and businesses have lost valuable employees because eligible people have had to return home (for years) to adjust their status. H.R. 1841 would allow eligible individuals to adjust their status in the United States and provide resources to reduce the INS backlogs.

* Pass the Central American and Haitian Adjustment Act. This legislation (S. 1592 and H.R. 2772) would ensure that refugees from El Salvador, Guatemala, Haiti and Honduras have the same opportunity to become permanent residents as those from Central America and the Caribbean.ssing a bill to repeal the "death tax," and urged President Clinton to sign the measure. The Senate passed the bill, the Death Tax Elimination Act, by a vote of 59 to 39.



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