Speech #830100511

Speaker. I am in: favor of the rule granted by the House Rules Committee on H. R. 6481. to authorize the admission of 240.000 refugees and immigrants from Europe. including a number of Iron Curtain escapees. This is a worthy and deserving bill. By the adoption of this measure to admit to the United States these refugees and escapees from political oppression and persecution. we shall make it possible for our country to follow up its words of encouragement to these people. who seek asylum here. with specific deeds that speak louder than words. Ever since I came to Congress in 1949. I have always favored liberal immigration laws and a liberal immigration policy. I am particularly elated to learn that the emergency immigration bill. which we now have under consideration. incorporates provisions to admit some 60.000 immigrants from Italy. in order to relieve in some small measure the overpopulation problem in that country. Earlier this year. I introduced a bill to admit 100.000 immigrants from Italy. outside of quota restrictions. over a 2year period. At the time. I emphasized Italys difficulties in adjusting itself to the political and economic changes of postwar Europe. and I stated then as follows: A prime factor in this difficult situation is its surplus of population and the need for increased emigration from Italy to other parts of the world as a solution of the problem. I am happy that the measure now before us gives due consideration to that problem. although not in as great a degree as I had originally recommended. Similarly. it also provides for the admission of a substantial number of refugees and Iron Curtain escapees from the Communistdominated countries. of Eastern Europe. We must give these people the necessary asylum. for in so doing we shall again set an example to the world regarding the treatment given to these people as we did several years