Speech #870048577

It is estimated that $1 out of every $10 spent in this country by foreigners finds its way into the National Treasury. It seems to me that what has to be done in this country if we are to take a leadership position is to shift the whole point of view about travel to the United States. For decades we have as a country been obsessed with a kind of xenophobia. We have done just the opposite of trying to attract people to come to the United States. Our whole system of immigration laws is designed. in fact. to keep people out of the United States. Every tourist who comes to the United States must qualify under the immigration laws insofar as they apply to nonpermanent residents of the United States and go through all the necessary redtape. We are so afraid that one of them might wish to settle down in the United States and become a permanent resident that we handcuff the business of encouraging people to come to this country. I suggest that what we have to do is to change the direction of the railroad train that we are on.