REQUEST TO RESTORE HUD
J-1 WAIVER PROGRAM
BY SENATOR D'AMATO

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The Honorable Andrew M. Cuomo
Secretary
U.S. Department of Housing and
Urban Development
451 Seventh Street, S.W.
Washington, D.C. 20410

Dear Secretary Cuomo,

It has recently been brought to my attention that the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has suspended further processing of J-1 waiver applications for physicians who agree to serve in communities which are designated as Health Professional Shortage Areas. I am concerned that this decision may negatively impact many New York communities which currently face enormous difficulties in attracting physicians to serve their needy populations.

It is my understanding that on August 26, 1996, HUD informed numerous health care institutions in these underserved communities that applications received after August 30, 1996 would not be considered, but that applications received prior to that date would continue to be processed. On December 13, 1996, HUD apparently rescinded the processing of applications altogether - including those received prior to the August deadline. The affected institutions lost several critical months during which they could have conducted efforts to attract the needed medical professionals.

The need for qualified physicians in these areas, which include both inner city and isolated rural communities, is great. Physicians are needed to help cope with the growing incidence of drug-resistant tuberculosis, HIV and other infectious diseases, as well as such critical health care needs as pre-natal and neo-natal care.

I expressed my concern about the moratorium as a written question to your nomination hearing. I respectively request a written description of the actions which the Department will take to resolve this unfortunate situation. Also, I would like to know what effect the recent legislative provisions contained in Section 622 of the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigration Responsibility Act of 1996 (Public Law 104-208) will have in alleviating HUD's concerns regarding the proper use of the waiver authority.

I look forward to working with you to find a resolution which will allow the goal of providing desperately needed care in underserved areas to be met.

Sincerely,

Alfonse M. D'Amato
Chairman

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