Speech #870133284

Finally. on September 6. S. 2237. in its amended form. was passed by the House and sent to conference. This is a typical example of the way in which immigration legislation is shaped in Congress. Instead of hearings and deliberations at which all of the interested parties can be heard and their views considered. we are presented at the end of a session with what amounts to a takeitorleaveit package. This method will never produce the long overdue and urgently needed basic reforms in our immigration laws to which both political parties are committed. This practice has been nurtured by acquiescence on the part of the Senate in the attempt by certain Members of the other body to dictate to both Houses the details of immigration legislation. I would not at this stage take any steps which might jeopardize the limited improvements in the law reflected in this bill. But in the future I intend to exercise whatever prerogatives I have to make certain that these matters are given proper consideration in the future. I refrained from signing the conference report as a gesture of protest against the parliamentary maneuverings which force the Senate now to act on a woefully inadequate bill it has never considered or else get no action at all on vitally important measures. One instrument that might be properly used to implement the congressional interest in immigration legislation is the Joint Congressional Committee on Immigration and Nationality Policy established by section 1106. title 8. United States Code. Section 1106 provides that five members of the Judiciary Committee of both the House and Senate are to be members of the Joint Committee. Section 1106 also provides that the functions of the committee will be "(to) make a continuous study of. first. the administration of this chapter. and its effect on the national security. the economy. and the social welfare of the United States. and second. such conditions within or without the United States which in the opinion of the committee might have any bearing on the immigration and nationality policy of the United States. This committee. of which I am a member. would certainly have been of considerable value this session in working our way out of the parliamentary maneuvering taking place in order to secure passage of the bill before us. The Joint Committee on Immigration Policy has yet to hold a meeting. since I have been assigned to the committee. The positions of chairman and vice chairman are vacant. Although the committee is authorized to employ personnel for the purposes of carrying out the functions of the committee. to my knowledge no such employees have been hired. It is my intention to press for the activating of this committee so that it can perform the useful purpose for which it was created. While some of the provisions of the bill will alleviate the hardship and unfairness of our present immigration laws. there is no question that further revision is urgently needed. Due to what appears to many to be an apparent lack of interest in immigration legislation by the congressional committees concerned and a lack of leadership from the executive branch of Government. no really comprehensive immigration legislation has seriously been considered in this session of the Congress. It is unthinkable that when both parties and both presidential candidates actively supported revision in our immigration laws that Congress now stands unwilling to act. The desire by both political parties has been made apparent. The need for this legislation is obvious. The missing ingredient up to the present time has been leadership. I am sure that an overwhelming majority of the Members of the Senate would support substantial revision in our present Immigration and Nationality Act if given an opportunity to vote on the subject on the floor of the Senate. Mr. President. I shall vote in favor of this legislation with the hope that in the future the other body will not succeed again in imposing its will on immigration policy. It is the responsibility of the Senate equally with the House in the days ahead to press for legislation which will bring an enlightened immigration policy to the United States. International understanding and cooperation may be achieved by a full realization of the human dignity of all men. Immigration laws in this country. tailored to meet that concept and reflecting a due concern for our own national interests. would contribute immeasurably to the acceptance by all nations of our sincerity and responsibility. I wish to pay my respects to those who have worked hard on this legislation. I regret that I could not see my way clear to go along with the other conferees in signing the report.