H.R. 2655: To amend and extend the Irish Peace Process Cultural and Training Program Act of 1998.

108th Congress · introduced 2003-06-26 · Immigration · Latest: Became Public Law No: 108-449.

federal

Follow this bill, step by step

Where it came from: introduced 2003-06-26 · official record
Who proposed it: Rep. Walsh, James T. [R-NY-25] · what a sponsor is
What happened next: no floor votes in our records yet. Why?
Where it stands now: Became Public Law No: 108-449. (final step reached)
If it becomes law and spends money: follow the money to money laws, then agencies and contracts and grants.

What does this mean?

Official title

To amend and extend the Irish Peace Process Cultural and Training Program Act of 1998.

Plain summary

(This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The summary of that version is repeated here.) Amends the Irish Peace Process Cultural and Training Program Act of 1998 (IPPCTPA) to limit the number of participants in the Irish Peace Process Cultural and Training Program who have a degree from an institution of higher education to no more than 20 percent. Amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to revise the nonimmigrant alien eligibility qualifications for program participants. Sets a minimum age of 21 (retaining the current age 35 maximum), and requires that the individual has: (1) been unemployed for at least six months; and (2) has resided for at least six months in Northern Ireland or one of designated border counties of the Republic of Ireland. Reduces from 36 to 24 months the temporary period of the visit to the United States for participation in the program. Denies any such person eligibility to apply for an immigrant visa, or for permanent residence, or for a nonimmigrant visa under such Act until he or she has resided and been physically present in the country of nationality or last residence for an aggregate of a least one year following departure from the United States. Authorizes the Secretary of Homeland Security to waive this requirement if: (1) departure from the United States would impose exceptional hardship upon the alien's spouse or child (if such spouse or child is a U.S. citizen or a lawfully resident alien); (2) the alien cannot return to the country of his or her nationality or last residence because he or she would be subject to persecution on account of race, religion, or political opinion; or (3) the admission of the alien is in the U.S. public or national interest. Extends the authority of the IPPCTPA through FY 2008. Requires the Secretary to report each program year to Congress (currently, the third program year and the three subsequent years) on the number of aliens admitted who have overstayed their visas.

Congressional Research Service summary (Reported to House without amendment), quoted unchanged (nonpartisan). Read the source.

What a vote does

A “Yea” vote

If it passes both chambers and is signed, it becomes law.

A “Nay” vote

If it is not passed, current law stays as it is.

PSI Sci description of the legislative step (not an opinion).

What does this mean? (plain words)

Official text

To amend and extend the Irish Peace Process Cultural and Training Program Act of 1998.

Source: Congressional Research Service summary (Reported to House without amendment)

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The strongest published arguments

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Alternatives

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How did my representative vote? · This bill's floor votes

Officials and money

Sponsor: Rep. Walsh, James T. [R-NY-25] · 27 cosponsors

Cost estimate: CBO cost estimate: H.R. 2655, A bill to amend and extend the Irish Peace Process Cultural and Training Program Act of 1998 (2003-08-08); CBO cost estimate: H.R. 2655, A bill to amend and extend the Irish Peace Process Cultural and Training Program Act of 1998 (2003-08-08)

Cosponsors on this site

Richard E. Neal (D-MA), Christopher H. Smith (R-NJ), Stephen F. Lynch (D-MA), Edward J. Markey (D-MA), James P. McGovern (D-MA), Jerrold Nadler (D-NY)

No linked floor roll calls in our collected records yet. This does not mean the bill has never had a vote. Check the official bill history.

Words on this page, explained (2)

Fiscal year: The 12-month period a government uses for its budget. The federal fiscal year runs from October 1 to September 30 and is named for the calendar year in which it ends. Most states use July 1 to June 30.
Securities: Financial investments that can be bought and sold, such as stocks and bonds.

Plain meanings written from linked sources. All words.

Sources

Congressional Research Service summary (Reported to House without amendment)
Congress.gov
Data: GovInfo BILLSTATUS bulk data (Library of Congress), BILLSTATUS-108hr2655.xml <https://www.govinfo.gov/bulkdata/BILLSTATUS/108/hr>

Record fed-us-cong108-hr2655 · catalog fed-us-congress-bills-cong108 · updated 2026-11-15 by psicol fed-bills-cong108