Speech #880136186

Catholic. Jewish. and nonsectarian American voluntary agencies operating throughout the world in the field of relief. rehabilitation. resettlement. community development. and technical aid programs. The officers and members of the American Council of Voluntary Agencies maintained a close working relationship with Congressman Walter on every significant refugee aid and migration program throughout the turbulent postwar period. We want to acknowledge our debt to him for his leadership in our Congress and in the Council of the Intergovernmental Committee for European Migration. which made possible indispensable U.S. support of these humanitarian programs. It was a measure of Congressman Walter as a man. that despite his heavy responsibilities in his leadership position in the Congress. and despite the fact that he did not always share the views of the voluntary agencies. his door was always open to us as representatives of the American council or of our own individual agencies. It was my privilege to have participated in many such meetings with Congressman Walter in Washington. New York. and here on the shores of Lake Geneva. The member agencies of the ACVA believe that these meetings often played a part in Congressman Walters decision to take the leadership in passage of a number of important humanitarian pieces of legislation. including the Migration and Refugee Assistance Act of 1962. already mentioned here. which provides indefinite continuation of special refugee immigration legislation and permanent U.S. participation in the work of ICEM. the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. the U.S. escapee program. and other refugee aid programs. Permit me to add. Mr. Chairman. that the members of the ACVA are deeply gratified that Congressman Walters successor as chairman of the important U.S. House of Representatives Subcommittee on Immigration and Naturalization. Congressman MXCHAxL FeIGHAN of Ohio. has already demonstrated that he desires to carry on this tradition of cooperation with the American voluntary agencies. And now.