Speech #840006256

Speaker. I have introduced a bill relating to the admission into the United States of scientists and others. in an attempt to eliminate restrictions placed upon them which have caused serious loss to the body of our scientific information and to the enrichment of our cultural life. Defects in the present procedures for the issuance of nonimmigrant visas have prevented the participation of aliens in meetings. conferences. temporary employment. and other transactions in the United Statessuch as scientific. scholarly. trade. and industrial conferences. employment in temporary research positions and the conduct of commercial. industrial. or professional transactions. The contribution of such aliens to the advancement of scientific and scholarly knowledge by their participation in such meetings. conferences. temporary employment. and other transactions in the United States is essential to the national defense and the furtherance of the industrial. technological. and cultural leadership of the United States. Such aliens are invited to such meetings. conferences. temporary employment. and other transactions in the United States by learned institutions and societies of national renown who. by their invitation. vouch for the character and learning of such aliens. Such meetings. conferences. temporary employment. and other transactions in the United States do not involve access to information the dissemination of which would prejudice national security. The importance of the contribution of such aliens has. heretofore. not been sufficiently recognized in the procedure for the issuance of nonimmigrant visas to such aliens. The text of the bill which I have introduced is as follows: Be it enacted. etc.. That section 101 (a) 15 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (66 Stat. 169. 8 U. S. C. 1101) is amended by addition of the following paragraph: "(J) An alien having a residence in a foreign country which he has no intention of abandoning. who is invited by an institution. organization. or governmental agency. to take part in a scientific. technological. artistic. sport. or other cultural conference or meeting in the United States. or to occupy temporarily a teaching or research position at an institution of learning or research. or to take part in an industrial. technological. scientific. or cultural transaction which is temporary in nature: Provided.