Mr. Speaker. for many years there have been proposals for changes in the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1924. As one who has long been interested in immigration problems. I feel that we have now reached the point where a minimum of change is expedient. To accomplish this. I have introduced two bills. The first of the bills would amend section 201 of the act so as to provide that all quota numbers not used in any year shall be made available in the following year to immigrants of oversubscribed nations. Under the law as it exists today. the total annual quotas number 154.659. In 1960 only about 101.000 quota immigrants were admitted. Generally speaking. about onethird of the quota goes unfilled each year. This lack of utilization is caused by the fact that there is an excess of quota numbers allotted to some countries. As the Congress determined the annual number of immigrants who shall enter the United States. I can find no valid reason for not permitting the full number to enter each year. So long as we have determined that the United States has sufficient room for a specific number of good immigrants. let us admit them. The second bill I have introduced concerns a more basic change in the law. I propose that the Census figures for 1950 instead of 1920 be used as a basis for determination of annual quotas.
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The United States has sufficient room for a specific number of good immigrants.