Speech #880067945

Mr. President. today the President of the United States forwarded to the Congress an historic message relating to basic revision of this Nations immigration laws. The President continues his public leadership in seeking an immigration policy which reflects the American belief in the individual worth of each man. As a Member of the House. as a Senator. and as President. President Kennedy has worked continually and effectively toward these goals. Since President Wilsons eloquent veto of the 1921 law proposing a racially restrictive immigration law. most of the succeeding Presidents of these United States have called upon the Congress to take corrective action. Studies have been made. and limited proposals for legislation have been sent to the Congress. President Kennedys message and the accompanying proposed legislation represent the first time in these many years that a specific bill abolishing the national origins quota system has been proposed to the Congress by the President. It is fitting that this proposal should come at a time when the Nation and the Congress are deeply committed to a full review of our practices and laws affecting our fellow citizens of different races. No provision of national law has been more repugnant to peoples of many nations throughout the world than one based on the infamous concept of judging a mans worth for immigration to our Nation on the basis of his place of birth or the racial ancestry of his parents. This meanness of spirit in our law is alien and apart from the great traditions of this Nation. As a people we are morally committed to seek a national policy which will make real the simple truth of the words of St. Paul that "God hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth." Earlier this year. I was joined by 36 of my colleagues on both sides of the aisle in introducing and sponsoring Senate bill 747. For a number of years this bill. also designed to find a formula for removing from our laws the principle of the national origins immigration concept. has been the basis for increasing public support for legislative action. Through conferences in key metropolitan centers across the country. by resolution of national. religious. fraternal. nationality. veterans. labor. and other broad community groups. the concept and principles contained in Senate bill 747 are widely supported and endorsed. Earlier this session. hearings on Senate bill 747 were announced by the chairman of the Subcommittee on Immigration and Naturalization. but they were postponed as we awaited the proposals from the President. I am hopeful that hearings on all of the bills proposing revisions of the national origins quota provisions can now be rescheduled in the near future. To those in Congress and those outside it who have supported and worked in support of Senate bill 747. I would say that the provisions of that bill and of the bill which I shall introduce today to carry out the recommendations of the President seek the same fundamental objectives. Many of theprovisions of Senate bill 747 and of the bill being introduced today are identical. These bills represent two alternate ways of removing the national origins quota system. I shall actively support the fullest congressional consideration of both proposals. The legislative task ahead will not be an easy one. To insure the fullest success in achievement of the goals common to all who work on immigration reform. we must have before the Congress the most creative and very best proposals. The Presidents proposal today moves us many strides toward reaching our goals. and its approach represents the most advanced proposal on this subject placed before the Congress by any Chief Executive. It will also have my support. and I hope all who previously joined with me in sponsoring Senate bill 747 will support it.