Speech #890084315

Mr. Speaker. a major item of unfinished business for the 89th Congress is the Celler immigration bill now pending before the House Judiciary Subcommittee on Immigration. The principal reform called for in the Celler bill and my companion bill. H.R. 2856. is the elimination of the nationalorigins quota system over a 5year period. Over the years. Congress has recognized the injustice caused by the present system and has enacted special legislation and private bills to remedy specific cases. The proposed bill would substantially reduce the number of private immigration bills introduced each year for the relief of individuals. By way of example. in the last four Congresses 14.672 such bills were introduced and 2.155 were enacted. It should be emphasized that there is no relaxing of the qualitative criteria for admissibility to the United States and that no relaxation of these mental. moral. economic. and ideological criteria is proposed by this legislation. Under the proposed amendments to the Immigration and Nationality Act preferences will be granted to those whose skills are especially advantageous to the United States and to relatives of U.S. citizens and resident aliens to promote the reuniting of families. Under this legislation. the total number of persons to be admitted to this country would not be substantially increased. I commend to my colleagues the following editorial which appeared in the July 6. 1965. edition of Newsday. published in Nassau County.