Speech #840166996

Mr. Speaker. I have today introduced a bill. which is designed to amend the Refugee Relief Act by permitting 20.000 persons of Armenian ethnic origin to enter the United States under the provisions of the Refugee Relief Act. For the past 2 years I have repeatedly urged that the total number of refugees admissible under the Refugee Relief Act should be increased substantially. The bill I have introduced today would do this very thing for 20.000 refugees of Armenian ethnic origin. At the time the Refugee Relief Act was passed the Congress of the United States was very thoughtful of the oppressed peoples of the world who. because of political and economic conditions. became refugees. These include people from Greece. Italy. Germany. Austria. and Holland. However. the Armenians in the Refugee Relief Act of 1953 were not included although they have been persecuted and driven from their homes during World War I and in World War II and also on many other occasions have been forced from their homes. It seems to me that their sufferings and hardships are certainly comparable to the sufferings and hardships of any other single minority group in the history of the world. That is why I am asking that Armenians of ethnic origin be Included within that 1953 act. I want to take this opportunity to point out that my bill covers those who have left the area of Turkey which was formerly Armenia either under duress. or voluntary in order t6 escape religious and political persecution. The coverage of the bill is limited to those who on the date of enactment are registered with a consular officer abroad for an immigrant visa. Their entry must be chargeable to a country that has an oversubscribed annual immigration quota of 310 or less. From the foregoing it is plain to see that my bill seeks to admit those who as a matter of practical fact could never be admitted under the annual immigration quotas established by the McCarranWalter Act. Here in the United States. a quarter of a million Armenian citizens of Armenian origin are living proof of the magnificent character and spirit of a virile race. The records show that Armenians have proved themselves worthy of being counted among the most useful and loyal racial elements of our Nation.