PlainBillCongress, translated.Legislation. Context. Public interest.Became Public Law No: 108-156.
Congressional Research Service
Version 35 · Passed Senate amended · Nov 12, 2003
Basic Pilot Program Extension and Expansion Act of 2003 - (Sec. 2) Amends the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996 to extend for five additional years: (1) the "basic" employment verification system pilot program; (2) the citizen attestation pilot program; and (3) the machine-readable-document pilot program.
(Sec. 3) Extends the scope of the "basic" pilot program to all States by December 1, 2004 (currently five to seven States). Directs the Secretary of Homeland Security to report on such program extension by June 1, 2004.
(Sec. 4) Amends the Departments of Commerce, Justice, and State, the Judiciary, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 1993 to authorize the Secretary of Homeland Security to give immigration priority to petitions filed under the pilot immigration for regional centers to promote economic growth. Extends such program for an additional five years.
(Sec. 5) Directs the General Accounting Office (GAO) to conduct a study of the immigrant investor program, including information on the number of such immigrants and their country of origin, settlement locality, and employment created by them.
People & committees
Sen. Grassley, Chuck [R-IA] · R–IA
Legislative record
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Became Public Law No: 108-156.
Became Public Law No: 108-156.
Signed by President.
Signed by President.
Presented to President.
Presented to President.
Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H11582-11583)
Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote.(text: CR H11582-11583)
DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on S. 1685.
Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H11582-11586)
Mr. Sensenbrenner moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill.
Held at the desk.
Received in the House.
Message on Senate action sent to the House.
Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent. (text: CR S14505-14506)
Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent.(text: CR S14505-14506)
The committee substitute as amended agreed to by Unanimous Consent.
Measure laid before Senate by unanimous consent. (consideration: CR S14504-14506; text of measure as reported in Senate: CR S14505)
Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 374.
Committee on the Judiciary. Reported by Senator Hatch with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. Without written report.
Committee on the Judiciary. Reported by Senator Hatch with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. Without written report.
Committee on the Judiciary. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
Introduced in Senate
Primary sources
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Source last updated: Aug 10, 2026. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.
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Analyze S.1685 as objectively as possible. Explain its main provisions, who would be affected, possible benefits and harms, implementation, exceptions, and uncertainties. Present the strongest arguments for and against it, and identify evidence needed to assess its public impact.
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