Speech #820209010

Replying further to the Senator from South Dakota . I reiterate that more than 6.800 pages of testimony. over the course of many months. were taken in connection with the formulation of the omnibus immigration and naturalization bill. This consisted of testimony from 307 persons. including 216 Federal employees from 8 departments of the Federal Government. and testimony from representatives of 53 different nongovernmental organizations. In the joint congressional hearings on the Senate bill and on two omnibus immigration bills introduced in the House of Representatives. 96 persons. representing 83 organizations. testified or submitted statements for the record. which consists of 786 printed pages. Two months after the omnibus immigration and naturalization bill. Senate bill 2550. was reported favorably to the Senate by the Committee on the Judiciary. 2 months after Senate bill 2550 had been placed on the calendar. the socalled HumphreyLehman substitute bill was introduced. Although not one of the sponsors of the HumphreyLehman substitute bill asked to be heard or attended any of the sessions of the hearings in the formation of the omnibus bill. or the hearings on the final bill. every point contained in the socalled HumphreyLehman substitute bill was presented at the hearings by some organization or individual. and was given careful consideration.