Irish Peace Process Cultural and Training Program Act of 1998
Public Law 105-319 · H.R. 4293 · 105th Congress · began in the House
Signed by Bill Clinton (D) on Oct 30, 1998 · Immigration
Sponsor: Rep. Jim Walsh (R-NY-25)
Cosponsors (53): Rep. Richard Neal, Rep. Benjamin Gilman,
Passage votes
- HouseVoice vote
- SenateUnanimous consent
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.
Summary
The Congressional Research Service’s plain-language summary of what the law does.
Irish Peace Process Cultural and Training Program Act of 1998 - Directs the Secretary of State and the Attorney General to establish a program for not more than 4,000 young people in each of three consecutive years from disadvantaged areas of designated counties in Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland that are suffering from sectarian violence and high unemployment. Declares that the purpose of such program is to help such individuals to develop job skills and conflict resolution abilities in a diverse and peaceful environment so that they can return home better able to contribute toward economic regeneration and the Irish peace process.
Amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to authorize 36-month nonimmigrant visas for an alien 35 years old or younger having a residence in Northern Ireland, or the counties of Louth, Monaghan, Cavan, Leitrim, Sligo, and Donegal within the Republic of Ireland (which the alien has no intention of abandoning), who is coming temporarily to the United States as a participant in the cultural and training program.
Authorizes appropriations.
Committees
The committees the bill was sent to, and what each did with it.
- Judiciary Committee · House · referred toSubcommittee: Immigration Integrity, Security, and Enforcement 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.
Timeline
From introduction to signing, newest first: the committees, the floor and the president. 12 actions.
- Oct 30, 1998Became lawBecame law · Became Public Law No: 105-319.
- Became lawBecame law · Signed by President.
- Oct 20, 1998PresidentPresident · Presented to President.
- Oct 8, 1998FloorFloor · Received in the Senate, read twice, considered, read the third time, and passed without amendment by Unanimous Consent.
- Oct 7, 1998FloorFloor · The title of the measure was amended. Agreed to without objection.
- FloorFloor · Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
- FloorFloor · On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote.
- FloorFloor · Mr. Smith (TX) moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
- Jul 31, 1998CommitteeCommittee · Referred to Immigration Integrity, Security, and Enforcement Subcommittee of the House Judiciary Committee
- Jul 21, 1998CommitteeCommittee · Referred to House Foreign Affairs Committee
- CommitteeCommittee · Referred to House Judiciary Committee
- IntroducedIntroduced · Introduced in the House
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.
Official record
The bill’s full text and every action, including introduction and committee steps, are on Congress.gov. Data through Oct 7, 2026.