Speech #880067845

Italians. and Greeks. because they were in the latter waves of migration to this country just before and after World War II. This system did not adversely affect the peoples from northern European countries. President Kennedys proposed changes in the law will eliminate the national origins quota system by 20 percent per year over a.5year period. and thereafter will place all quota numbers in one pool. Therefore. unused quota numbers from northern European countries will benefit the split families of American citizens who remained behind in thesethe split families of American citizens who have been forced by our present restrictive immigration law to remain behind in southern European countries. Also. President Kennedys proposals include the elimination of preference quota for the mothers and fathers of American citizens. This phase of the Kennedy proposal can mean the almost immediate migration of some 3.500 southern European parents to these shores to be reunited with their loved ones who are now American -citizens. subject. of course. to enactment of these proposals by Congress. Mr. Speaker. some quick calculations and analysis of this Kennedy immigration proposal would indicate that as many as 100.000 more people can be admitted to the United States annually over and above the present quotas based solely on national origin. This. I think. is the humane approach to select immigrants for the United States. based on the need for uniting families or the compelling need for seeking new opportunities in America. rather than the distasteful nationalorigin basis which has been a cornerstone of our immigration laws for 40 years. I hope that early hearings will be held on President Kennedys proposals with a view toward enacting the new immigration changes this year. Let Actions Speak More Loudly Than Words