Speech #870079452

I appreciate his courtesy in informing me that he intends to make a motion to table. Mr. President. this amendment would extend the provisions of the Alien Orphan Adoption Act. under which special nonquota visas were granted to alien orphans under the age of 14. for an additional 2year period. On June 30. this program. which had been in effect for 13 years. came to an end. Through this program. thousands of parentless children from all over the world have been given an opportunity to enjoy freedom and a new life in America. This legislation has exemplified in the finest manner the charitable and humanitarian instincts of the people of this Nation. It is. in my judgment. the finest of all of our immigration programs. Many bills to extend the program have been introduced by various Members of the Senate. The distinguished Senator from Oregon has had a great interest in the alien orphan adoption program. and has offered a bill to extend the program for 3 years. The distinguished minority leader. the Senator from Illinois . has introduced legislation to extend it for 1 year. My distinguished colleague from New York and I are sponsors. with the Senator from Wisconsin . of a bill to extend indefinitely the provisions of the law In a somewhat modified form. I am sorry to say that to date no action has been taken on any of these proposals and no hearings have been scheduled by the Senate immigration and Naturalization Subcommittee to examine the merits of these bills. This amendment is for an extension of 2 years. I have no particular feeling about the length of the extension.