Speech #820201756

Mr. Chairman. I want first to pay tribute to the great Committee on the Judiciary and especially to its Subcommittee on Immigration and Naturalization for its long and arduous work on this bill which is exceedingly complicated. because it deals with so many individual cases and situations which are by their very nature complicated. I want also to express my gratitude for the longsuffering and understanding patience which its members have shown to some of us who perhaps seemed at times to have axes to grind because of the importunity with which we have pressed for certain changes in our immigration laws. It was only because we were so concerned about the inequities in this field which we felt simply must be corrected if we are to have peace in the world and security for our own country. Particular appreciation is due the chairman. the gentleman from Pennsylvania . for his unfailing courtesy. along with his thorough mastery of this subject and his lIgh patriotism in trying to get done the things that he believed were for the interest of all of us. Mr. Speaker. I do not contend that this bill is a final solution to our immigration problems or that it gives perfect equity rnd justice in all situations. There are some things in it that I do not like. I do not suppose any single Member of this House or even on the subcommittee agrees with everything in the bill. But certainly this bill. if enacted into law. represents an enormous forward step and a great improvement over the hodgepodge of immigration legislation which has grown up since the last comprehensive revision. It does remove a good n.any injustices that presently exist. although one cannot say that it does perfect justice to every needy and deserving person. One of the most important and significant advances and the one in which I am most interested. of course. is the Inclusion of the provisions of my bill to remove racial discrimination from our immigration and naturalization laws. while preserving the basic national origins principle. I have been working for 91/2 years. since I first entered Congress. to get this long overdue action taken. My bill was passed twice by the House of Representatives. once in the Eightieth Congress and again In the Eightyfirst Congress. but each time was stymied in the other body because of failure to get on the program or for one reason or another. I was in Asia during the twenties and thirties and saw the devastating effects on its people and on ourselves. of the Racial Exclusion Act of 1924. I am convinced that when history is written it will be recognized that perhaps the single biggest factor causing Japan to turn away from her original desire and tendency to go along in friendship and harmony with the United States and other Western Powers. was the passage of that act. It was the wrong way to deal with the problems which admission of large numbers of cheap Oriental labor inevitably created.