Speech #870286974

It is a bold approach and supplements many of the provisions of my earlier bill. H.R. 3038. which provides numerous drastic policy and procedural revisions. The bill would completely eliminate national origins as a basis for determining immigration quotas and would put greater emphasis on the reunificacation of families. It would authorize a total worldwide quota of 250.000. with permanent standby provisions for the admission of up to 50.000 refugees and escapees. The remaining quotas would be allocated to various countries under a twopart formula based upon the population of the country and recent immigration into the United States. As I mentioned a moment ago. primary emphasis would be put on family reunification. with 60 percent of the visas reserved for blood relatives of citizens and permanent resident aliens. I feel confident that this bill offers a workable and desirable solution to the problems raised by the national origins system. It is my hope that the Judiciary Committees in both Houses will at some time in the not too distant future get down to work and examine the merits of immigration bills. including my bill. which have been introduced for years with no action taken on them. As proof that we are still operating in the "dark ages" of immigration policy. I would like to call to the attention of this House and the American people. the recent farsighted revisions in the immigration policies of our neighbor. good friend. and ally. Canada. On February 1. of this year. new regulations were implemented which liberalize and bring into proper perspective Canadian immigration requirements. The Minister of Citizenship and Immigration of Canada. Ellen L. FairClough. said. on January 19. 1962: The most important provision of the new regulations is section 31. which is in fact the core of Canadas immigration policy. The new regulation 31. replacing section 20 of the former regulations. lays primary stress on education. training and skills as the main condition of admissibility. regardless of the country of origin of the applicant. If a person can qualify on these grounds and has sufficient means to establish himself in Canada until he finds employment. or. alternatively. is coming forward to approved employment. or with suitable plans for selfestablishment in Canada. he or she is admissible. subject only to the normal requirements of good health. good character. and so forth. This means that any suitably qualified person. from any part of the world. can be considered for Immigration to Canada entirely on his own merit. without regard to his race. color. national origin or the country from which he comes. This is a substantial advance over the former regulations in that the selection of immigrants. insofar as selection on the basis of skills is concerned. will be done without discrimination of any kind. This represents a realistic appraisal of the problem and an attempt to provide a solution which will benefit both Canada and those who desire to live and work in Canada. Mr. Speaker. the time is long past due that the United States conduct an equally realistic and sensible reappraisal of our immigration policies. To do otherwise is to prohibit untold thousands from not only enjoying the blessing of freedom but contributing to the economic. social and cultural growth of our country.