I. too. rise in support of H.R. 2580. Mr. Chairman. the consideration by the House of Representatives on H.R. 2580 concerning amendments to the Immigration and Nationality Act is being heralded throughout America as an historic occasion. Soon the frustrations of our people will be soothed and soon long overdue amendments as set forth in the bill will be enacted into law. I am convinced. Mr. Chairman. that had the public been fully aware of the discriminatory features of our present immigration law. these long overdue changes would have been accomplished during the years passed. Since the adoption of the Immigration and Nationality Act in 1952. the unfair system of choosing immigrants we will allow to enter our country has been under vigorous attack. The national origins quota system is truly an unfair standard and has been in existence for altogether too long. to wit. 1924. This is truly an Indefensible effort to maintain the racial and ethnic composition of our population that existed in this Nation over four or five decades ago. It was discriminatory in its tone and operated to the obvious detriment of the southern European. An Italian or a Greek or a Pole or a Chinese artisan found it obviously more difficult to gain entrance in this land of opportunity in contrast to a northern European prospective immigrant. and in all too many instances. the skilled were left behind under this unfair system and an unskilled immigrant from northern Europe enjoyed priority above those from southern and eastern Europe and all Asian countries. It is important. Mr. Chairman. that there be corrected as well the situation of separation which keeps parents from children and brothers from sisters for years upon years. and which commits prospective immigrants to long. impossible waiting lists for a lifetime. These wonderful amendments end once and for all. in this land of equality. the inference that one kind of ancestry is better than another. It is important in my view that Americas image abroad be free of conflict. that we truly frame an immigration policy which says to the world. "We walk as we talk. and we choose immigrants not on the basis of where they or their ancestors happened to be born. but we choose immigrants for what they truly can contribute to our society." Equally abhorrent to or American tradition is the socalled AsianPacific triangle which states that persons of Asian stock be assigned to quota areas not by their place of birth. but according to their racial ancestry. This provision requires that a person of Asian ancestry is still to be charged to the Asian quota. even if born halfway around the globe. Mr. Chairman. I would consider the amendments to the Immigration and Nationality Act to be as important as the landmark legislation of this Congress relating to the Civil Rights Act. The central purpose of the administrations immigration bill Is to once again undo discrimination and to revise the standards by which we choose potential Americans in order to be fairer to them and which will certainly be more beneficial to us. A major step in the right direction is the elimination of the national origins quota system. I wish to commend the members of the Judiciary Committee of the House of Representatives who labored so long and so well and under such trying conditions of pressure. who have succeeded in bringing forth this bill. Mr.
Identified stereotypes
One kind of ancestry is better than another.