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JOINT RESOLUTION MEMORIALIZING THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES AND THE UNITED STATES CONGRESS TO AMEND FEDERAL LAW REGARDING STUDENT VISAS FOR PUBLIC SCHOOLS
WE, your Memorialists, the Members of the One Hundred and Twenty-fifth Legislature of the State of Maine now assembled in the First Regular Session, most respectfully present and petition the President of the United States and the United States Congress as follows:
WHEREAS, federal law allows 4-year student visas for foreign students attending private schools in the United States and allows one-year student visas for those attending public schools in this country; and
WHEREAS,  the difference in visas creates an unfair disadvantage for public schools trying to recruit foreign students; and
WHEREAS,  several school systems in Maine are attempting to attract foreign students to stabilize enrollment and bring in tuition money to supplement local, state and federal education aid and reduce reliance on local property taxes; and
WHEREAS,  the inequity in student visas between private and public schools is one that should be rectified; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED: That We, your Memorialists, respectfully urge and request that the President of the United States and the United States Congress work together and amend the federal Immigration and Nationality Act regulating student visas to allow an international student to acquire a 4-year student visa regardless of whether the student plans to attend a private or public school; and be it further
RESOLVED: That suitable copies of this resolution, duly authenticated by the Secretary of State, be transmitted to the Honorable Barack H. Obama, President of the United States, to the President of the United States Senate, to the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives and to each Member of the Maine Congressional Delegation.