InsideGov
Congress · Laws

Soviet Scientists Immigration Act of 1992

Public Law 102-509 · S. 2201 · 102nd Congress · began in the Senate

Signed by George H. W. Bush (R) on Oct 24, 1992 · Immigration

Sponsor: Sen. Hank Brown (R-CO)

Cosponsors (9): Sen. Robert Dole,

Passage votes

  • HouseVoice vote
  • SenateVoice vote
Data notes

The final version of the law, as each chamber passed it. A chamber that passed it by voice vote or unanimous consent has no count. “Method not stated” means the record does not say how the chamber voted. Where the record has a member-by-member vote, the “Who voted for it” section shows who voted yea.

Report a correction

Summary

The Congressional Research Service’s plain-language summary of what the law does.

Soviet Scientists Immigration Act of 1992 - Defines: (1) "Baltic states" as Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia; (2) "independent states of the former Soviet Union" as Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgystan, Moldova, Russia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, and Uzbekistan; and (3) "eligible independent states and Baltic scientists" as aliens who are nationals of any of the independent states of the former Soviet Union or the Baltic states, and who are scientists or engineers who have expertise in nuclear, chemical, biological or other high technology fields or who are working in nuclear, chemical, biological, or other high technology defense projects.

Authorizes the special admission into the United States of up to 750 (not including accompanying spouses and children) Commonwealth and Baltic scientists as employment-based immigrants under the Immigration and Nationality Act. Waives the U.S. job offer requirement and classifies such aliens as having exceptional ability. Terminates the program four years after enactment of this Act.

Committees

The committees the bill was sent to, and what each did with it.

  • Foreign Affairs Committee · House · referred toSubcommittee: Arms Control, International Security and Science Subcommittee; International Operations Subcommittee; Europe and the Middle East Subcommittee
  • Judiciary Committee · House · markup by, referred to, reported bySubcommittee: Immigration Integrity, Security, and Enforcement Subcommittee
  • Judiciary Committee · Senate · markup by, referred to, reported bySubcommittee: Border Security and Immigration Subcommittee
Data notes

A committee links to its page only where it exists in the current Congress; older and renamed committees are named without a link.

Report a correction

Timeline

From introduction to signing, newest first: the committees, the floor and the president. 26 actions.

  1. Oct 24, 1992Became lawBecame law · Became Public Law No: 102-509.
  2. Became lawBecame law · Signed by President.
  3. Oct 15, 1992PresidentPresident · Presented to President.
  4. Oct 2, 1992Resolving differencesResolving differences · Senate agreed to the House amendments by Voice Vote.
  5. Sep 21, 1992FloorFloor · The title of the measure was amended. Agreed to without objection.
  6. FloorFloor · Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
  7. FloorFloor · On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote.
  8. FloorFloor · Mr. Mazzoli moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
  9. CommitteeCommittee · Reported by House Judiciary Committee
  10. Aug 6, 1992CommitteeCommittee · Markup by House Judiciary Committee
  11. Jun 24, 1992CommitteeCommittee · Reported by Immigration Integrity, Security, and Enforcement Subcommittee of the House Judiciary Committee
  12. CommitteeCommittee · Markup by Immigration Integrity, Security, and Enforcement Subcommittee of the House Judiciary Committee
  13. Jun 2, 1992CommitteeCommittee · Referred to Arms Control, International Security and Science Subcommittee of the House Foreign Affairs Committee
  14. CommitteeCommittee · Referred to International Operations Subcommittee of the House Foreign Affairs Committee
  15. CommitteeCommittee · Referred to Europe and the Middle East Subcommittee of the House Foreign Affairs Committee
  16. Jun 1, 1992CommitteeCommittee · Referred to Immigration Integrity, Security, and Enforcement Subcommittee of the House Judiciary Committee
  17. May 21, 1992CommitteeCommittee · Referred to House Foreign Affairs Committee
  18. CommitteeCommittee · Referred to House Judiciary Committee
  19. May 20, 1992FloorFloor · Passed Senate with an amendment and an amendment to the Title by Voice Vote.
  20. Apr 8, 1992CommitteeCommittee · Reported by Senate Judiciary Committee
  21. CommitteeCommittee · Markup by Senate Judiciary Committee
  22. Apr 3, 1992CommitteeCommittee · Markup by Border Security and Immigration Subcommittee of the Senate Judiciary Committee
  23. CommitteeCommittee · Reported by Border Security and Immigration Subcommittee of the Senate Judiciary Committee
  24. Mar 26, 1992CommitteeCommittee · Referred to Border Security and Immigration Subcommittee of the Senate Judiciary Committee
  25. Feb 6, 1992CommitteeCommittee · Referred to Senate Judiciary Committee
  26. IntroducedIntroduced · Introduced in the Senate
Data notes

Shows the introduction, each committee and subcommittee step the source dates (referral, hearings, markup, report, discharge), and the floor, conference, presidential and became-law steps. Calendar placements, messages between the chambers, amendments and committee report numbers are not shown for laws before the 108th Congress. Two entries the source lists twice are shown once.

Report a correction

Official record

The bill’s full text and every action, including introduction and committee steps, are on Congress.gov. Data through Oct 7, 2026.