Bruce Morrison
Former Congressman
Author, "Morrison Visas"

Biography

Bruce A. Morrison is Chairman of the Morrison Public Affairs Group (MPAG), which he founded in 2001 to conduct and supervise a broad practice involving strategic advice and representation for both domestic and international clients.  He is also an attorney and provides legal advice and assistance in immigration matters. His consulting work involves advocacy to Congress and the Executive branch, as well as building alliances within the private sector.  His areas of expertise include financial services, housing finance, privacy, immigration policy, and intellectual property.

From 1983 to 1991, Mr. Morrison represented the Third District of Connecticut (New Haven) in the U.S. House of Representatives.  He also served on the Judiciary Committee, where he specialized in immigration, as well as intellectual property issues, bankruptcy law, and consumer protection policy, including privacy.  As chairman of the Immigration Subcommittee, he led the passage of the Immigration Act of 1990, a comprehensive reform, which included expanded admission of skilled workers.  This legislation created the "Morrison visa" program under which almost 50,000 Irish men and women received green cards in the early 1990s.

While in Congress, Mr. Morrison was involved with human rights advocacy in many areas of the world, including Chile, Central America, South Africa, Haiti, Paraguay, and the Middle East.  Through his interest in human rights, he became involved in Northern Ireland, where he first visited in 1987.  In Congress, he also served on the Banking Committee, playing a leadership role in financial services oversight, housing and housing finance, economic development, and U.S. policy regarding the World Bank, the IMF, and LDC debt.

After leaving Congress to run for Governor of Connecticut in 1990, he established a law firm specializing in immigration representation of firms and individuals.  He also served from 1992 to 1997 on the U.S. Commission on Immigration Reform, which conducted a comprehensive study of U.S. immigration law.

Since 1991, Mr. Morrison has traveled frequently to Northern Ireland and has been involved in many aspects of the Peace Process.  In 1992, he advised Bill Clinton, while a Presidential candidate, on issues related to Northern Ireland.  He continued to provide advice and information to the Clinton White House from 1993 to 2001, including assistance on negotiations leading to IRA cessations in 1994 and 1997.  In 1992 and 1996, he was Co-Chairman of Irish-Americans for Clinton-Gore.

Also during the Clinton Administration, he was appointed by the President as Chairman of the Federal Housing Finance Board, an independent agency regulating the twelve Federal Home Loan Banks, a wholesale banking system with assets in excess of $600 billion.  In this role from 1995 to 2000, he developed and implemented a far-reaching strategy to modernize the business of the Banks. 

Mr. Morrison holds a bachelor’s degree in chemistry from MIT and a master’s degree in organic chemistry from the University of Illinois.  He is a graduate of the Yale Law School.

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