Speech #840161378

President. our country has always helped the poor and downtrodden and certainly there can be no nobler aim than to help thousands of unfortunate orphans who are born into such a bleak environment and whose futures are so clouded. Because of the great and urgent need. I introduce. for appropriate reference. a bill to extend the provisions of the Refugee Relief Act as it applies especially to orphans. My bill extends the time for issuing visas under section 5 of the Refugee Relief Act from December 31. 1956. to December 31. 1959. Equally important. my bill would increase the number of visas authorized in section 5 from 4.000 to 9.000. which would mean there would be at least 5.000 authorized visas for the 3year extension of the section applying to orphans. My bill would also raise the age limitation of eligible orphans from 10 to 14 years. An increase in the age limitation. together with an increase in the number of authorized visas. together with an extension of the time for issuing visas. has been recommended by the American branch of the International Social Service. Inc. I have felt for some time that the Childrens Bureau of the Department of Health. Education. and Welfare should have an official role in administering the orphan provisions of the Refugee Relief Act. I understand that the Childrens Bureau has given advice informally to the Refugee Relief Administrator. but I think that their role can be officially formalized by statute. Many orphans are adopted abroad by American families and subsection (e) of .my bill provides an official role for the Childrens Bureau and tightens up existing provisions which allow orphan adoptions in foreign countries. Under my proposal. no visa shall be issued to orphans adopted abroad under the laws of a foreign country by a United States citizen and spouse without the prior approval of the Chief of the Childrens Bureau. in accordance with regulations prescribed by the Secretary of that Department after consultation with the Administrator of the refugee relief program. It is my feeling that such regulations should take into consideration the urgent needs of these orphans. and such standards must necessarily be flexible. Mr.