Speech #880010866

Department of Labor. November 20. 1962: The training of professional and technical workers represents a heavy economic investment for the people of a country. As indicated earlier. many immigrants are fully trained when they arrive. The receiving country benefits from the education and training which were acquired in the country of the immigrants origin. Thus. the United States received immigrants who brought with them not only a willingness to work but a diversified knowledge. education. and training which were needed throughout the economy. The United States has reaped manifold gains from the admission of immigrants whose skills and experience enable them to make a vital contribution to our Nations growth. Surely. there is no need to justify elimination of the inequities In our immigration law that prevent the unification of families. The grief and hardship incurred under the present harsh restrictions would be eradicated under the provisions of my bill. Simple humanity dictates the need for this change. The bill also eliminates the extremely discriminatory provisions relating to the AsiaPacific triangle which require a person. one of whose parents is of a race attributable to an area within the AsiaPacific triangle. to come under an AsiaPacific quota rather than the quota of his native country. Mr. Speaker. there has been a great deal of pious talk about changing our immigration quota system. The time has long since passed when we should have had some legislative action on these proposals. I was encouraged by the Presidents remarks at his January 24 press conference that the administration is planning to offer recommendations for legislation in this area. With the added support of the administration. prospects for action have brightened considerably. I urge that Congress give priority to the longoverdue enactment of an immigration policy that will be fair to all.