Speech #870299953

Mr. President. I wish to call attention to the fact that at a time when I was not in the Chamber. the Senate acted today. as did the House later. upon S. 3361. the only immigration bill of any general character I regret to say. which may be enacted in this session of Congress. The bill deals with several items. one is the category of approved first preference applicants. approximately 10.000. whose quota numbers are oversubscribed under our outmoded immigration laws and whose skills are critically needed for our national defense effort. On that subject I introduced a bill. S. 2956. on March 8. 1962. In substance it is identical to the language incorporated in S. 3361. which was passed today. but which was not introduced until May 1962. I am delighted that this job has been done. which is so essential to our national security. I also express my pleasure at the admission of some 16.000 fourthpreference immigrants. which is also provided for in the bill which was passed. Nevertheless. I again point out that we are derelict in not having passed general immigration legislation. to deal with the injustices and inequities of the McCarranWalter Act. The President has not asked for it. and he should have asked for it. This is one of the great pieces of unfinished business of Congress. I also point out that if the people of New York return me to the Senate. I shall do my utmost to make this one of the real struggles in any ensuing term of office I have here. I believe that the honor and dignity. the national interest and natural humanitarian feelings of the people of the Nation dictate that we must do away with this immigration law. with its injustices and inequities. upon which so many of us agree. but about which. somehow or other. we cannot break through the hard crust of getting action because of the opposition and because of the situation with respect to high committee positions that we have encountered. I pledge myself to the people of New York. if they return me to the Senate next year. to dedicate myself to do my best about this situation.