Speech #740081153

Mr. Speaker. the Committee on Immigration and Naturalization has favorably reported to this House Joint Resolution 285 to permit the admission of Boy Scouts and their officials and executives from foreign countries for the purpose of participating in the national jamboree that is to take place this summer in the city of Washington. without payment of visa fees. head tax. or customs duties on personal effects or paraphernalia to be used in connection with that jamboree. This is the first thing of the kind that has taken place in the history of our Republic. The President of the United States has invited the Boy Scouts of other nations to participate with our American Boy Scouts. Heretofore. several times. other countries have invited our American Boy Scouts. their officials. their executives. and also parents and guardians to come to foreign shores. and they were well treated and well taken care of. and this measure only seeks to assist our Boy Scouts to extend the same kind of treatment to their Boy Scout guests from other lands. This resolution permits the Boy Scouts and their officers and their executives to come into this country for the purpose of attending this jamboree without paying the usual visa fees and without paying the $8 head tax and without having to pay customs duties on their effects. I feel this privilege may well be extended to accompanying parents and guardians of these alien Boy Scout participants. There are certain amendments to the resolution which were agreed to by the committee at our meeting this morning. At the proper time these supplementary amendments will be submitted for your consideration. I am not now submitting them. but I desire now simply to give you the purpose of them. First. we would permit waiver of payment of visa fees. head tax. and certain customs duty in the cases of any parents or guardians of these alien Boy Scout participants just in the same way this resolution as reported does with regard to Boy Scout participants. Boy. Scout officials. and Boy Scout executives. second. we will propose a new proviso at the end of section 1. which would place all these aliens benefited by this resolution. under proper regulations to safeguard their return abroad at the conclusion of their visit here for this jamboree.