Speech #860031884

Mr. President. on behalf of myself and the junior Senator from New York I introduce. for appropriate reference. a bill extending for an additional 2 years the law granting nonquota immigrant status to orphans under 14 years of age who have been or will be adopted by an American citizen upon admission to the United States. The present statutory authority under which these orphan children may be admittedPublic Law. 85316. approved September 11. 1957expires on June 30. 1959. Under the terms of this bill an orphan includes children under 14 where either both parents are dead. have disappeared. or have abandoned the home. or where one parent is dead. disappeared or has abandoned the home and the other parent is unable to provide proper care. It .covers orphans who are adopted abroad. orphans who are abroad and assured of adoption in the United States. and orphans in the United States for whom adoption would regularize their immigration status. More than 11.000 orphans have been admitted to the United States since the adoption of the first alien orphan statute 11 years ago as part of the Displaced Persons Act of 1948. The program has been extended three times since then. by the act of July 29. 1953. by the Refugee Relief Act of 1953 and by Public Law 316. It has been a great source of personal satisfaction to me as a member of the House of Representatives and later as a member of the Senate to have participated actively in the passage of these measures and to have joined in their sponsorship. I have received many heartfelt requests from my constituency. from citizens wishing themselves to adopt individual orphans. urging continuation of the present law. In the debates and testimony on this legislation much has .been saidand rightly soregarding the unfortunate. parentless child for whom adoption is sought. I should for a moment like to add a thought for the childless couples and the many couples who have room in their hearts for another child who look to the Congress to extend the provisions of section 4 of Public Law 85316. the alien orphan adoption section. beyond the June 30 expiration date. These are the Americans who think not in terms of immigration or foreign policy but rather in the personal terms of the Italian boy. the Greek girl. the Korean waif. whom they so earnestly desire to take into their homes as their own. The Congress can do naught but share in their blessings by the speedy enactment of this proposed legislation. I trust that the Judiciary Committee to which it will be referred will give it early consideration and prompt approval.