Speech #840161240

Mr. Speaker. last week I introduced a bill which would extend the Refugee Relief Act of 1953. Today I am introducing another bill to do substantially the samething. Although the bill I introduce today will do much that the earlier bill will do. todays measure is principally aimed at helping and encouraging those who escape from Communist countries. Its main purpose is to facilitate the entry of those who have escaped or who will escape. and it does this in a number of ways. It has an important function of showing. by the policy of our country toward refugees. that this country still recognizes her duty to receive those who flee persecution. To further that end. this bill substantially relaxes the requirements for admission of certain refugees. more commonly called escapees. who have fled Communist persecution. It is my hope and prayer that it will not only help those who have already fled. but also those who will flee from Communist persecution in the future. Its passage will furnish encouragement to the peoples behind the Iron Curtain. It will increase the number of visas which will be issued under the Refugee Relief Act of 1953. and it will enlarge considerably the provisions for adjustment of status of aliens who have heretofore entered the United States as bona fide nonimmigrants. Provisions for admission of escapees from Communist. Communistdominated. or Communistoccupied areas would be liberalized in several ways. The allocations of visas for such escapees in different areas would be combined and the total number authorized would be increased from 45.000 to 50.000. These escapees would no longer be subject to the requirement that they must produce assurance from citizens of the United States that they will be suitably employed and housed without displacing other persons. The allocation of visas for Italian refugees would be increased from 45.000 to 65.000. and for Greek refugees. from 15.000 to 25.000. An additional 1.500 orphan refugees would be admitted. and the age limit for eligible orphans would be raised from 10 years to 12. To prevent the separation of families. not more than 1.000 refugees who are afflicted with tuberculosis would be admitted to this country. To avail himself of this exception. an alien would have to be a member of a family group consisting of qualified applicants for visas under this act. and arrangements would have to be made to insure that he would not become a public charge or endanger the public health. Aliens who have heretofore entered this country as bona fide nonimmigrants would be given a new opportunity to apply for adjustment of status until June 30. 1957. The deadline for entrance into this country in order to qualify for such adjustment is changed from July 1. 1953 to July 1. 1954.