Speech #890102035

Mr. President. a significant Gallup poll on immigration reform appeared in the Washington Post last Sunday. The poll reflects what I believe has long been the attitude of the American peoplethat the national origins quota system of selecting immigrants should be eliminated from the statute books. The poll reflects widespread public support for selecting immigrants. not on the basis of their parentage or birth.place. but rather on the basis of their occupational skills and whether or not they have relatives living in this country. This is the kind of approach to immigration reform recommended to Congress by President Kennedy and President Johnson. As Senators know. their legislative recommendations have been carried out in S. 500 and H.R. 2580. Both these bills. and other proposals. have been the subject of close scrutiny by the Immigration subcommittees of this Chamber and the House of Representatives. The House subcommittee reported out H.R. 2580 with amendments last week. Hearings before the Senate subcommittee. are nearly completed. As a matter of fact. they will be completed next Tuesday. Mr. President. there is good reason to believe that Congress will enact a fair immigration law within the next several weeks. The Gallup poll is a barometer of public support in this area. I ask unanimous consent the article which appeared in the Washington Post on Sunday.