#216: Clinton Letter to Congress on Cent. Am., Haitian Parity Act (fwd)

[Robert Corbett <bcorbett@netcom.com>]

From:nozier@tradewind.net

Clinton Letter to Congress on Cent. Am., Haitian Parity Act 
U.S. Newswire 6 Aug 18:36 

WASHINGTON, Aug. 6 /U.S. Newswire/ -- The following was released 
today by the White House: 

TO THE CONGRESS OF THE UNITED STATES: 

I am pleased to transmit for your immediate consideration and 
enactment the "Central American and Haitian Parity Act of 1999." Also 
transmitted is a section-by-section analysis. This legislative 
proposal, which would amend the Nicaraguan Adjustment and Central 
American Relief Act of 1997 (NACARA), is part of my Administration's 
comprehensive effort to support the process of democratization and 
stabilization now underway in Central America and Haiti and to ensure 
equitable treatment for migrants from these countries. The proposed 
bill would allow qualified nationals of El Salvador, Guatemala, 
Honduras, and Haiti an opportunity to become lawful permanent 
residents of the United States. Consequently, under this bill, 
eligible nationals of these countries would receive treatment 
equivalent to that granted to the Nicaraguans and Cubans under 
NACARA. 

Like Nicaraguans and Cubans, many Salvadorans, Guatemalans, 
Hondurans, and Haitians fled human rights abuses or unstable 
political and economic conditions in the 1980s and 1990s. Yet these 
latter groups received lesser treatment than that granted to 
Nicaraguans and Cubans by NACARA. The United States has a strong 
foreign policy interest in providing the same treatment to these 
similarly situated people. Moreover, the countries from which these 
migrants have come are young and fragile democracies in which the 
United States has played and will continue to play a very important 
role. The return of these migrants to these countries would place 
significant demands on their economic and political systems. By 
offering legal status to a number of nationals of these countries 
with long-standing ties in the United States, we can advance our 
commitment to peace and stability in the region. 

Passage of the "Central American and Haitian Party Act of 1999" 
will evidence our commitment to fair and even-handed treatment of 
nationals from these countries and to the strengthening of democracy 
and economic stability among important neighbors. I urge the prompt 
and favorable consideration of this legislative proposal by the 
Congress. 

WILLIAM J. CLINTON 

THE WHITE HOUSE, 
August 5, 1999.