Speech #860195615

March 17. I introduced a bill. H.R. 11235. which would carry out the Presidents recommendation for the overhaul and modernization of the U.S. immigration laws. The Presidents message pointed out the need not only for improvement in the basic quota system. but also the necessity for creating a permanent system to be added to our basic laws whereby there could be admitted into the United States a reasonable number of refugees and escapees who have been driven from their homes by persecution. political upheaval. or natural calamity. This is World Refugee Year. The United States. by Presidential proclamation. is one of 69 nations which has fixed upon this year as the time when at long last we must find some permanent solutions for the refugee problem. Although the Presidents proclamation and his specific recommendations in this field were transmitted to the Congress. no action has been taken by the Congress. This country is therefore left in the unfortunate position of having taken no action by way of relaxing our own immigration laws. in order to give meaning to World Refugee Year. The time has come. Mr. Speaker. for action and not for mere words. This bill would authorize the Attorney General to parole into the United States upwards of 10.000 refugees each year. Further. the President is empowered. in emergency situations. to issue a proclamation to that effect and to admit greater numbers. After such refugees have been in the United States for 2 years the bill authorizes the Attorney General to adopt a specified procedure. subject to congressional revision. whereby such persons may acquire permanent residence status. With the safeguards in this bill. there can be no serious objections to the proposal for offering relief to worthy refugees and escapees who have fled from persecution and who seek asylum and a home. The United States has much to gain from this. As the President said in his message to the Congress: Nations who in the past have granted entry to the victims of political or religious persecutions have never had cause to regret extending such asylum. These persons with their Intellectual idealism and toughness will become worthwhile citizens and will keep this Nation strong and respected as a contributor of thought and ideals. The quota provisions of this bill are selfexplanatory and simple of understanding. They represent a giant step forward by the United States in the abandonment of the national origins system. This is accomplished by predicating the distribution of the increase in the quota that would be provided to the various quota areas upon the basis of the actual immigration into the United States from each quota area between 1924 and 1959. and not upon the ethnic composition of the United States as It existed in 1920. Mr. Speaker. under unanimous consent I include at this point in the RECORD. as part of my remarks. an explanation and analysis of the bill: