Student Visa Security Improvement Act

Authorization bills related to educational and cultural exchange programs, international education, foreign language study, and public diplomacy H.R. 176, the Shirley A. Chisholm United States-Caribbean Educational Exchange Act of 2007, to authorize the establishment of educational exchange and development programs for member countries of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), all provisions H.R. 1469/S. 991, the Senator Paul Simon Study Abroad Foundation Act of 2007, to establish the Senator Paul Simon Study Abroad Foundation under the authorities of the Mutual Educational and Cultural Exchange Act of 1961, all provisions S. 1083, the Securing Knowledge, Innovation, and Leadership Act of 2007, to amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to increase competitiveness in the United States, and for other purposes, all titles S. 1259/H.R. 2092, the Education for All Act of 2007, to amend the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 to provide assistance for developing countries to promote quality basic education and to establish the achievement of universal basic education in all developing countries as an objective of United States foreign assistance policy, and for other purposes, all provisions S. 1464/H.R. 3698, the Global Service Fellowship Program Act of 2007, to establish a Global Service Fellowship Program, all provisions S. 2609, the Global Service Fellowship Program Act of 2008, to establish a Global Service Fellowship Program, all provisions S. 1661, the Travel Promotion Act of 2007, to communicate United States travel policies and improve marketing and other activities designed to increase travel in the United States from abroad, all provisions H.R. 3232, the Travel Promotion Act of 2007, to establish a non-profit corporation to communicate United States entry policies and otherwise promote tourist, business, and scholarly travel to the United States, all provisions S. 2252, the Youth Exchange Support Act of 2007, to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to increase the deduction for host families of foreign exchange and other students from $50 per month to $200 per month, all provisions H.R. 3062, the Pacific Island Economic and Educational Development Act of 2007, to authorize appropriations to provide for South Pacific exchanges, provide technical and other assistance to countries in the Pacific region through the United States Agency for International Development, and authorize appropriations to provide Fulbright Scholarships for Pacific Island students, all provisions H.R. 3275, the U.S.-China Language Engagement Act, to support programs that offer instruction in Chinese language and culture and for other purposes, all provisions H.R. 3272, United States-China Diplomatic Expansion Act of 2007, to provide for increased funding and support for diplomatic engagement with the People's Republic of China, all provisions H.R. 2553, the Public Diplomacy Resource Centers Act of 2007, to amend the State Department Basic Authorities Act of 1956 to provide for the establishment and maintenance of existing libraries and resource centers at United States diplomatic and consular missions to provide information about American culture, society, and history, and for other purposes, all provisions H.R. 4577, the Student Visa Security Improvement Act, to require the Secretary of Homeland Security to strengthen student visa background checks and improve the monitoring of foreign students in the United States, and for other purposes, all provisions S. 3643, Increasing America's Global Development Capacity Act of 2008, to enhance the capacity of the United States to undertake global development activities, and for other purposes, all provisions S. 3546, Strategic Communications Act of 2008, to establish the National Center for Strategic Communication to advise the President regarding public diplomacy and international broadcasting to promote democracy and human rights, and for other purposes, all provisions Appropriations bills related to educational and cultural exchange programs S. 3288 (S. Rpt. 110-425), the Department of State, Foreign Operations and Related Programs Appropriations Act of 2009, making appropriations for the Department of State, foreign operations, and related programs for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2009, and for other purposes, Title I, Department of State and Related Agency provisions, provisions related to exchange programs and public diplomacy programs; Title III, Bilateral Economic Assistance provisions related to exchange programs H.R. 2638 (H. Rpt. 110-181), Consolidated Security, Disaster Assistance, and Continuing Appropriations Act, 2009, Division A, continuing appropriations resolution and Division D, Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act, 2009, provisions related to border security improvements, including US-VISIT and the Student and Exchange Visitor Program S. 3230, (S. Rpt. 110-410) making appropriations for the Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education, and related agencies for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2009, and for other purposes, Title III, Department of Education, provisions related to higher educations Title VI, Fulbright-Hayes and the international programs of FIPSE National Security Education Program/Language study-related bills H.R.5658/S. 3001, the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2009, to authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2009 for military activities of the Department of Defense, for military construction, and for defense activities of the Department of Energy, to prescribe military personnel strengths for such fiscal year, and for other purposes, all provisions related to the National Security Education Program; House amendment to develop a comprehensive interagency strategy for strategic communication and public diplomacy by the end of 2009; House amendment to establish an advisory panel for national security collaborative system H. R. 2111, the Foreign Language Education Partnership Program Act, to amend the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to establish a partnership program in foreign languages, all provisions H.R. 678, the National Security Language Act, to strengthen the national security through the expansion and improvement of foreign language study, and for other purposes, all provisions H.R. 747/S. 451, the National Foreign Language Coordination Act of 2007, to establish a National Foreign Language Coordination Council, all provisions S.1642/H.R.4137, the Higher Education Amendments of 2007, to amend and extend the authorization of programs under the Higher Education Act of 1965, and for other purposes, Titles I, II, VI and VII, provisions related to international and foreign language education H.R. 4137, the College Opportunity and Affordability Act of 2007, to amend and extend the Higher Education Act of 1965, and for other purposes, Titles IV, VI, VII, provisions related to international and foreign language education H.R. 5179, the International Education Leadership Act of 2008, to establish in the Department of Education an Assistant Secretary for International and Foreign Language Education and an Office of International and Foreign Language Education, all provisions H.R. 7093/S. 3658, to require the accreditation of English language training programs, and for other purposes, all provisions Authorization and appropriations bills related to the Department of Homeland Security and visas S. 342/H.R. 561, the Secure Travel and Counterterrorism Partnership Act, to expand visa waiver program to countries on a probationary basis and for other purposes, all provisions H.R. 1684, Department of Homeland Security Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2008, to authorize appropriations for the Department of Homeland Security for fiscal year 2008, and for other purposes, Title IX, Border Security Improvements, provisions related to US-VISIT and the Student and Exchange Visitor Program S. 2653, the American Competitiveness Through International Openness Now Act of 2008, to further United States security by restoring and enhancing the competitiveness of the United States for international students, scholars, scientists, and exchange visitors and by facilitating business travel to the United States, all provisions H.R. 1312, the Arts Require Timely Service (ARTS) Act, to expedite adjudication of employer petitions for aliens of extraordinary artistic ability, all provisions H.R. 5571, to extend for 5 years the program relating to waiver of the foreign country residence requirement with respect to international medical graduates, all provisions H.R. 6947/S. 3181, (H. Rpt. 110-862/S. Rpt. 110-396), making appropriations for the Department of Homeland Security for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2009, and for other purposes, provisions related to border security improvements, including US-VISIT and the Student and Exchange Visitor Program H.R. 2638 (H. Rpt. 110-181), Consolidated Security, Disaster Assistance, and Continuing Appropriations Act, 2009, Division A, continuing appropriations resolution and Division D, Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act, 2009, provisions related to border security improvements, including US-VISIT and the Student and Exchange Visitor Program Visa/SEVIS issues Ongoing discussions with the Department of State and the Department of Homeland Security regarding regulation of the Exchange Visitor Program, visa policy and procedures and SEVIS fee payment requirements. Social Security Issues Discussions with Social Security Administration and Department of Homeland Security re: streamlining the procedures through which legal nonimmigrant workers can receive Social Security numbers.

Client expense: Not reported · Firm income: Not reported

Government targets: Bureau of Citizenship & Immigration Services (BCIS), HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Homeland Security, Dept of (DHS), SENATE, Social Security Administration (SSA), State, Dept of (DOS), U.S. Customs & Border Protection, U.S. Immigration & Customs Enforcement (ICE), U.S. Information Agency (USIA)

Authorization bills related to educational and cultural exchange programs, international education, foreign language study, and public diplomacy H.R. 176, the Shirley A. Chisholm United States-Caribbean Educational Exchange Act of 2007, to authorize the establishment of educational exchange and development programs for member countries of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), all provisions H.R. 1469/S. 991, the Senator Paul Simon Study Abroad Foundation Act of 2007, to establish the Senator Paul Simon Study Abroad Foundation under the authorities of the Mutual Educational and Cultural Exchange Act of 1961, all provisions S. 1083, the Securing Knowledge, Innovation, and Leadership Act of 2007, to amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to increase competitiveness in the United States, and for other purposes, all titles S. 1259/H.R. 2092, the Education for All Act of 2007, to amend the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 to provide assistance for developing countries to promote quality basic education and to establish the achievement of universal basic education in all developing countries as an objective of United States foreign assistance policy, and for other purposes, all provisions S. 1464, the Global Service Fellowship Program Act of 2007, to establish a Global Service Fellowship Program, all provisions S. 1661, the Travel Promotion Act of 2007, to communicate United States travel policies and improve marketing and other activities designed to increase travel in the United States from abroad, all provisions H.R. 3232, the Travel Promotion Act of 2007, to establish a non-profit corporation to communicate United States entry policies and otherwise promote tourist, business, and scholarly travel to the United States, all provisions S. 2252, the Youth Exchange Support Act of 2007, to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to increase the deduction for host families of foreign exchange and other students from $50 per month to $200 per month, all provisions H.R. 3062, the Pacific Island Economic and Educational Development Act of 2007, to authorize appropriations to provide for South Pacific exchanges, provide technical and other assistance to countries in the Pacific region through the United States Agency for International Development, and authorize appropriations to provide Fulbright Scholarships for Pacific Island students, all provisions H.R. 3275, the U.S.-China Language Engagement Act, to support programs that offer instruction in Chinese language and culture and for other purposes, all provisions H.R. 3272, United States-China Diplomatic Expansion Act of 2007, to provide for increased funding and support for diplomatic engagement with the People's Republic of China, all provisions H.R. 2553, the Public Diplomacy Resource Centers Act of 2007, to amend the State Department Basic Authorities Act of 1956 to provide for the establishment and maintenance of existing libraries and resource centers at United States diplomatic and consular missions to provide information about American culture, society, and history, and for other purposes, all provisions H.R. 4577, the Student Visa Security Improvement Act, to require the Secretary of Homeland Security to strengthen student visa background checks and improve the monitoring of foreign students in the United States, and for other purposes, all provisions Appropriations bills related to educational and cultural exchange programs H.R. xxxx/S. xxxx (Not yet introduced), the Department of State, Foreign Operations and Related Programs Appropriations Act of 2009, making appropriations for the Department of State, foreign operations, and related programs for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2009, and for other purposes H.R. xxxx/S. xxxx, (Not yet introduced), making appropriations for the Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education, and related agencies for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2009, and for other purposes National Security Education Program/Language study-related bills H.R.5658/S. 3001, the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2009, to authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2009 for military activities of the Department of Defense, for military construction, and for defense activities of the Department of Energy, to prescribe military personnel strengths for such fiscal year, and for other purposes, all provisions related to the National Security Education Program; House amendment to develop a comprehensive interagency strategy for strategic communication and public diplomacy by the end of 2009; House amendment to establish an advisory panel for national security collaborative system H.R. xxxx/S. xxxx, (Not yet introduced), making appropriations for the Department of Defense for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2009, and for other purposes, provisions related to the National Security Education Program H. R. 2111, the Foreign Language Education Partnership Program Act, to amend the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to establish a partnership program in foreign languages, all provisions H.R. 678, the National Security Language Act, to strengthen the national security through the expansion and improvement of foreign language study, and for other purposes, all provisions H.R. 747/S. 451, the National Foreign Language Coordination Act of 2007, to establish a National Foreign Language Coordination Council, all provisions S.1642, the Higher Education Amendments of 2007, to extend the authorization of programs under the Higher Education Act of 1965, and for other purposes, Titles I, II, VI and VII, provisions related to international and foreign language education H.R. 4137, the College Opportunity and Affordability Act of 2007, to amend and extend the Higher Education Act of 1965, and for other purposes, Titles IV, VI, VII, provisions related to international and foreign language education H.R. 5179, the International Education Leadership Act of 2008, to establish in the Department of Education an Assistant Secretary for International and Foreign Language Education and an Office of International and Foreign Language Education, all provisions Authorization and appropriations bills related to the Department of Homeland Security and visas S. 342/H.R. 561, the Secure Travel and Counterterrorism Partnership Act, to expand visa waiver program to countries on a probationary basis and for other purposes, all provisions H.R. 1684, Department of Homeland Security Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2008, to authorize appropriations for the Department of Homeland Security for fiscal year 2008, and for other purposes, Title IX, Border Security Improvements, provisions related to US-VISIT and the Student and Exchange Visitor Program S. 2653, the American Competitiveness Through International Openness Now Act of 2008, to further United States security by restoring and enhancing the competitiveness of the United States for international students, scholars, scientists, and exchange visitors and by facilitating business travel to the United States, all provisions H.R. 1312, the Arts Require Timely Service (ARTS) Act, to expedite adjudication of employer petitions for aliens of extraordinary artistic ability, all provisions H.R. 5571, to extend for 5 years the program relating to waiver of the foreign country residence requirement with respect to international medical graduates, all provisions H.R. xxxx/S. 3181, (S. Report 110-396) (Not yet introduced in House), making appropriations for the Department of Homeland Security for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2009, and for other purposes Visa/SEVIS issues Ongoing discussions with the Department of State and the Department of Homeland Security regarding regulation of the Exchange Visitor Program, visa policy and procedures and SEVIS fee payment requirements. Social Security Issues Discussions with Social Security Administration and Department of Homeland Security re: streamlining the procedures through which legal nonimmigrant workers can receive Social Security numbers.

Client expense: Not reported · Firm income: Not reported

Government targets: Bureau of Citizenship & Immigration Services (BCIS), HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Homeland Security, Dept of (DHS), SENATE, Social Security Administration (SSA), State, Dept of (DOS), U.S. Customs & Border Protection, U.S. Immigration & Customs Enforcement (ICE), U.S. Information Agency (USIA)

Congressional appropriation for construction of irrigation project; legislative riders affecting Native American tribes; possible funding for education; binding arbitration legislation (H.R. 4577); tribal homeland security funding legislation (H.R. 3266/S. 578); land consolidation issues (S. 1721); tribal pension legislation (S. 2831/H.R. 3605); tribal exempt bonding authority

Client expense: Not reported · Firm income: $160,000

Government targets: HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Interior, Dept of (DOI), SENATE