Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 114 Part 2.djvu/381

 PUBLIC LAW 106-313—OCT. 17, 2000 114 STAT. 1263 the Immigration and Nationality Act should be processed not later than 30 days after the filing of the petition. SEC. 203. DEFINITIONS. 8 USC 1572. In this title: (1) BACKLOG. — The term 'Tjacklog" means, with respect to an immigration benefit application, the period of time in excess of 180 days that such application has been pending before the Immigration and Naturalization Service. (2) IMMIGRATION BENEFIT APPLICATION. —The term "immigration benefit application" means any application or petition to confer, certify, change, adjust, or extend any status granted under the Immigration and Nationality Act. SEC. 204. IMMIGRATION SERVICES AND INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVE- 8 USC 1573. MENT ACCOUNT. (a) AUTHORITY OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL. —The Attorney General shall take such measures as may be necessary to— (1) reduce the backlog in the processing of immigration Deadline, benefit applications, with the objective of the total elimination of the backlog not later than one year after the date of enactment of this Act; (2) make such other improvements in the processing of immigration benefit applications as may be necessary to ensure that a backlog does not develop sifter such date; and (3) make such improvements in infrastructure as may be necessary to effectively provide immigration services. (b) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.— (1) IN GENERAL. —There is authorized to be appropriated to the Department of Justice from time to time such sums as may be necessary for the Attorney General to carry out subsection (a). (2) DESIGNATION OF ACCOUNT IN TREASURY. — Amounts appropriated pursuant to paragraph (1) may be referred to as the "Immigration Services and Infrastructure Improvements Account". (3) AVAILABILITY OF FUNDS. —Amounts appropriated pursuant to paragraph (1) are authorized to remain available until expended. (4) LIMITATION ON EXPENDITURES.— None of the funds appropriated pursuant to paragraph (1) may be expended until the report described in section 205(a) has been submitted to Congress. SEC. 205. REPORTS TO CONGRESS. (a) BACKLOG ELIMINATION PLAN.— (1) REPORT REQUIRED. — Not later than 90 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Attorney General shall submit a report to the Committees on the Judiciary and Appropriations of the Senate and the House of Representatives concerning— (A) the backlogs in immigration benefit applications in existence as of the date of enactment of this title; and (B) the Attorney General's plan for eliminating such backlogs. (2) REPORT ELEMENTS.—The report shall include— (A) an assessment of the data systems used in adjudicating and reporting on the status of immigration benefit applications, including— 8 USC 1574. Deadline.

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