Knowledgeable Innovators and Worthy Investors Act

Floor Speech

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Mr. LEE. 2245 and the Senate proceed to its immediate consideration.
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Mr. LEE. Madam President, it is an honor to be involved in the passage of this important legislation. The Knowledgeable Innovators and Worthy Investors Act, or KIWI Act, is a bipartisan bill that legislatively extends E-1 and E-2 visas to citizens of New Zealand. It does not increase the number of available visas.

Granting access to these visas to New Zealand would increase both investment and trade into the United States and strengthen our relationship with New Zealand.

New Zealand is, of course, a country that is critical to our relationships. We have a critical strategic military and economic partner in the Asia-Pacific region with New Zealand, and this legislation will further strengthen America's presence in the Asia- Pacific region.

E-1 and E-2 visas allow qualified foreign nationals to engage in substantial trade or to develop and direct the operations of an enterprise in which the individual is heavily invested.

The United States will benefit from increased investment in trade with New Zealand. New Zealand's citizens and businesses currently make substantial investments in the United States. These businesses have created more than 10,000 jobs. In 2017, $10.5 billion in trade passed between the United States and New Zealand.

Allowing New Zealanders to apply for E-1 and E-2 visas will affirm reciprocity and strengthen the United States' relationship with New Zealand. Again, this is a country that is a critical ally and a partner in the Asia-Pacific region, and it will also increase the United States' presence in that region.

New Zealand is the only Five-Eyes country whose citizens are currently ineligible to apply for these visas, while American citizens are currently eligible for reciprocal visas in New Zealand. So I am grateful and honored to be involved in moving this legislation. I am grateful to my colleagues for consenting to this. I am grateful to have worked on this with my distinguished colleague, the Senator from Hawaii, who worked hard with me to put together this bipartisan piece of legislation that we have been fortunate enough to pass through the Senate today.

Thank you.

I see that my colleague from Hawaii is here.

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