Speech #890017791

However. Mr. Speaker. one very important proposal in President Johnsons programlegislation to reform our immigration policyappears to be lagging behind all other priority legislation. I urge my colleagues on the House Judiciary Committee to speed up the time schedule so that this very important legislationa proposal for immigration reform conceived by the late President Kennedy. and submitted to this Congress by President Johnson and designated by him as one of the most important programs before the Congress this session--may be enacted into law. Let us whet the legislative process to a finely honed instrument and cut through the delay in the enactment of that important program. For a period of over 3 months. Subcommittee No. 1 of the House Judiciary Committee heard witnesses from all interested governmental agencies. private organizations. and private citizens express their views on our immigration policies. The record has been made and the foundation firmly established for action and for action now. Repeal of an immigration law based on an undemocratic national origins quota system was a major goal of President Kennedy who understood the problems and appreciated the contributions of those millions who came from foreign lands to make their home in our United States. Our late President took a special interest in immigration matters throughout his public life. He stated many times that the basic problem for our immigration policy is to choose fairly among the applicants for admission to this country. Only a few weeks ago President Kennedys last book. "A Nation of Immigrants" pointed with pride to the great contributions made by the foreign born to our great countryundoubted contributions of people from all over the world who have given this Nation its great strength. This Nation was formed by immigrants of courage and ability. This Nation has benefited from their genius and a rich and enduring culture has been our reward. President Johnson in his January 13. 1965. immigration message to the Congress noted that four Presidents have called attention to the serious defects in our immigration legislation. With conviction he said: I urge the Congress to return the United States to an immigration policy which both serves the national interest and continues our traditional ideals. No move could more effectively reaffirm our immigration policy which both serves the national interest and continues our fundamental belief that a man is to be Judgedand Judged exclusivelyon his worth as a human being. The discrimination which has existed in our immigration policy for several decades can no longer go unchallenged and unheeded. The legislation to remedy our outdated and immature attitude toward immigrants is pending before this body. I repeat. we must speed up the schedule for passage of the immigration reform bill. The House Judiciary Committee in this Congress is in a position to initiate the building of a great monument to a great President. It would be a fitting tribute. indeed. if Congress would consider the present immigration bill so that it could be passed in time for President Johnson to sign it into law on May 29the birth date of the late President John F. Kennedy.