Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 116 Part 3.djvu/604

 116 STAT. 2196 PUBLIC LAW 107-296—NOV. 25, 2002 employees of such bureau holding positions involving supervisory or managerial responsibility and classified, in accordance with chapter 51 of title 5, United States Code, as a GS-14 or above, shall— (i) gain some experience in all the major functions performed by such bureau; and (ii) work in at least one field office and one service center of such bureau. Deadline. (B) REPORT. —Not later than 2 years after the effective date specified in section 455, the Secretary shall submit a report to Congress on the implementation of such program. (5) PILOT INITIATIVES FOR BACKLOG ELIMINATION.—The Director of the Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services is authorized to implement innovative pilot initiatives to eliminate any remaining backlog in the processing of immigration benefit applications, and to prevent any backlog in the processing of such applications from recurring, in accordance with section 204(a) of the Immigration Services and Infrastructure Improvements Act of 2000 (8 U.S.C. 1573(a)). Such initiatives may include measures such as increasing personnel, transferring personnel to focus on areas with the largest potential for backlog, and streamlining paperwork. (b) TRANSFER OF FUNCTIONS FROM COMMISSIONER.— In accordance with title XV (relating to transition provisions), there are transferred from the Commissioner of Immigration and Naturalization to the Director of the Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services the following functions, and all personnel, infrastructure, and funding provided to the Commissioner in support of such functions immediately before the effective date specified in section 455: (1) Adjudications of immigrant visa petitions. (2) Adjudications of naturalization petitions. (3) Adjudications of asylum and refugee applications. (4) Adjudications performed at service centers. (5) All other adjudications performed by the Immigration and Naturalization Service immediately before the effective date specified in section 455. (c) CHIEF OF POLICY AND STRATEGY.— (1) IN GENERAL. —T here shall be a position of Chief of Policy and Strategy for the Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services. (2) FUNCTIONS.— In consultation with Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services personnel in field offices, the Chief of Policy and Strategy shall be responsible for— (A) making policy recommendations and performing policy research and analysis on immigration services issues; and (B) coordinating immigration policy issues with the Chief of Policy and Strategy for the Bureau of Border Security of the Department. (d) LEGAL ADVISOR.— (1) IN GENERAL.— T here shall be a principal legal advisor to the Director of the Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services. (2) FUNCTIONS.— The legal advisor shall be responsible for—

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