Speech #880230031

It seems to me to be the best bill ever introduced on the subject of revamping the McCarranWalter Act. Let us look at certain basic facts regarding our present policies. The most obvious one is that as long as the quota system is based on national origins. it is bound to have disastrous consequences. Because it is based on national origins. the resultant discrimination against southern and eastern Europeans is most discouraging. In this bill I am introducing today. the United States would establish an annual total quota according to the 1960 census. This would result in an annual quota of 300.000. While this will be interpreted by enemies of this legislation as an opening of the floodgates. it willin actualityincrease the number of immigrants to this country by about 50.000. This is due to the fact that the present allotment of 154.000 is exceeded by an additional 100.000 through special legislation. The changes enumerated on the floor by my colleagues on Monday will. I am certain. reduce the number of hardships created by the program through a distribution system among the several quota areas in proportion to the actual immigration into the United States chargeable to each area between July 1. 1920. and the date of this acts enactment. While there are many features that could be stressed on the quota system outlined in the legislation. I would also like to stress two other major features of the bill. namely. the preference for parents of U.S. citizens and the provision for the relief of world refugee and Communist escapee problems. This bill would include in the nonquota category parents of U.S. citizens. the same nonquota system that is now accorded to a child and spouse of a citizen. We need not stress here the importance of the family unit for it seems obvious that parents of citizens should be included in the high priority list. And finally. I would like to make certain comments regarding the refugee provisions of this legislation. The bill defines "refugee" as an alien whobecause of persecution or fear of persecution on account of race. religion. or political opinionhas fled from any Communist territory or from a country of the Middle East. The definition also includes persons who are victims of war. political upheaval and natural calamity and who are unable to return to their former homes. The bill would empower the President to parole into the United States 10.000 refugees during serious emergency situations such as the 1956 Hungarian revolt. They would then become eligible to apply for permanent residence after a period of time. Apart from these emergency situations. 20.000 special refugee visas would be authorized over a 2year period in order to relieve pressure on various refugee concentration areas. And there are many other features of the legislation that I would like to stress. However. in the interests of preserving space.