Speech #840234371

Mr. President. this morning we passed an immigration bill. a measure which would make some constructive changes in the McCarranWalter Act and some essential modifications in the Refugee Relief Act. It was not a radical bill. and the changes were not sweeping ones. although they were good for America and represent a constructive liberalization both of the McCarranWalter Act and the Refugee Relief Actamendments which would help make these two laws work in a more humane and flexible mannermore in keeping with the spirit and tradition of America. Before the Senate passed that legislation. it considered and then turned down by a voice rote some very farreaching proposals for the modification of the Immigration and Nationality Act. made by the junior Senator from New York . who had associated with him on that proposal a numberI think dt was 12of other Members of the .Senate. Mr. President. I want to pay tribute to the leadership which has been given to the forces fighting for immigration reform by the junior Senator from New York. He has been fighting that battle. and has been supported by other Members of. this bodyand I could name quite a few names: the junior Senator from Minnesota . the senior Senator from Illinois [Mr. DoucLAS]. the junior Senator from Rhode Island . the senior Senator from Oregon :Mr. MORsE]-and quite a few other Senatorsever since he has been a Member of the Senate. It has been one of his chief crusades. and he is. as we all know. an inveterate crusader for the causes in which he believes. whether all of us go along with him in all those causes or not. In my judgment. the bill the Senate passed today was in some measure at least. if not 4n a major measure. a reflection of the tireless advocacy of immigration reform of the junior Senator from New York . I do not want to overlook anybody who deserves credit in this field. and there are those on both sides of the aisle. But I do want to say that Senator LEHMAN has been a most tireless spokesman for immigration reform not only in the Senate. but in the country at large. I know of his efforts to inform the American people on this issue. and both the supporters and opponents of changes in our immigration laws recognize his leadership in this field. I want to say that those of us who agree with him. and those of us who disagree with him. honor his efforts and the sincerity of his position. Although I do not believe that he felt the bill we passed today was a big enough step forward. he did say that he considered it a step forward and he supported and voted for it.