Speech #870301518

Mr. Speaker. as one who has been consistently advocating. over the past 15 years. improvement in and modernization of our immigration laws. I am impelled by a strong sense of duty to urge approval of this bill. S. 3361. new before us. A similar bill was considered and approved by a subcommittee of the House Judiciary Committee. of which I am a member. and we are pleased that the Senate saw fit to act upon the measure earlier today. The first section of this bill extends the date of registration 3 months. to March 31. 1954. for brothersand sisters and married sons and daughters of citizens of the United States where they have applied for an immigrant visa. under the law. and did not receive a quota number. Although the Senate would not agree to our proposed registration date of December 31. 1954. the date established in this measure will. at least. permit some 16.000 to be reunited with their families in this country if they so desire. In the next Congress. I most earnestly hope that the registration date will be further extended to cover all of those qualified applicants. who have been patiently waiting. to rejoin family members and relatives in this country. The second part of this measure provides for admittance. or the adjustment of immigrant status. of those skilled aliens whose services are urgently needed in the United States. The Department of Defense and defense contractors have testified to the essential need for these individuals and the Labor Department has established that they would not be competing for jobs with American workers. This section of the bill will greatly reduce the work of the Judiciary Committees of the House and Senate where this problem has been dealt with. over a long period. in a piecemeal fashion by use of private bills for practically each individual involved. Under the provisions of this measure. the State Department and Immigration and Naturalization Service will have the authority to process these applicants and make the adjustment in their immigration status. Mr. Speaker. none of the fundamental requirements. such as good character. nonCommunist affiliation. integrity. et cetera. for persons to enter this country are being waived by this legislation. This is a good. sound measure entirely within the traditions of our immigration policies and I most earnestly hope it is promptly approved without further delay. Japan Lifts Bars. but Just Slightly