Speech #880062159

Madam President. I am very pleased to cosponsor the bill introduced by my colleague from New York to amend the Immigration and Nationality Act. I am also principal cosponsor of another major bill introduced earlier in this session by the Senator from Michigan for the purpose of making basic reforms in the Immigration and Nationality Act. The HartKeating bill was drafted in cooperation with the American Immigration and Citizenship Conference. a group which has over the years provided outstanding leadership on this subject. It is the result of many years study of the problems in this field and reflects a completely realistic approach to the need for overhauling our present laws. The bill being introduced today must not divide those in both parties who have joined In efforts for reform. Rather. it should serve to emphasize the bipartisan determination of a substantial number of Senators to support every reasonable attempt to bring about a much needed change in our immigration policy. There are differences in detail. but the purpose and goals are the same. to allow our great Nation to share fully in its world responsibilities and remove the unjust features of our immigration laws. The American credo is based upon the rights and dignity of the individual. Our present immigration laws contain a number of discriminatory provisions which cannot possibly be reconciled with these principles. The bill being introduced today would eliminate these provisions from the law. Since I favor any action which would accomplish this result. I have joined as a cosponsor of this bill. America has become great through the genius and industry of immigrants of every nationality and from every corner of the world. No nation can ever have a surplus of brains and skills. and no nation can prosper and grow if it cuts off the nourishment It receives from dedicated men and women throughout the world searching for a better life. This bill makes special provision for the issuance of nonquota immigrant visas for refugeeescapees. People subject to persecution or fear on account of race. religion. or political opinion who have fled from a Communistdominated nation would come within the definition of refugeeescapees In addition. individuals fleeing from Middle Eastern countries or other areas where forces are at work against the free world would be defined as refugeeescapees. The bill also contains measures which would empower the President to direct the Attorney General to parole into the U.S. refugeeescapees. should future world developments create another situation similar to the Hungarian uprising. The provisions would provide relief to people fleeing from the tyranny of a Castro or similar tyrant. These refugeeescapee provisions are of particular importance to our Nations efforts to assume the initiative and provide moral leadership in the struggle with international communism. The need for our Nation to take a more imaginative and positive approach to foreign affairs has been urged for years. Our image abroad has been under sharp attack. America can once again be the innovator in the struggle to capture the minds and hearts of people throughout the world. But this can be accomplished only by setting the kind of example which has made the United States a symbol of hope since colonial days. I have consistently urged that hearings be scheduled by the Immigration Subcommittee of which I am a member on the HartKeating bill. S. 747. and was very pleased when hearings were scheduled for late last month. However. those hearings were postponed. and I regret that up to this time no date has been rescheduled. It is regrettable that no immigration proposals have been forthcoming from the executive branch to date. However. Congress has its own responsibilities in this area and it is time we begin exercising them. Therefore. I continue to believe that hearings on the pending immigration bills should be held in the near future whether or not the executive branch has submitted its recommendations. But certainly our chances for success would be increased immeasurably by support from the executive branch and I hope that such support will be forthcoming when the committee holds its hearings.