Speech #890120768

Mr. Chairman. I rise in support of H.R. 2580. a bill to eliminate the national origins quota system and to revise our. national immigration policy. Since January 3. when I became a Member of the 89th Congress. I have repeatedly made my feelings known to my colleagues of my avid support of President Johnsons position on the revision of the immigration law and the abolishment of the national origins quota system. Three past Presidents. Truman. Eisenhower. and Kennedy. have also denounced the present statute as being unjust. prejudiced and biased toward certain nationalities. In June 1964. the Democratic Party in convention in Atlantic City in its platform adopted a program urging a more realistic immigration policy. This program included the repeal of the national origins quota system. a proposal under which families may be united. where professionals and technicians would be admitted regardless of national origin. where people would not be limited by their national origin from entering this country. Before coming to Congress. I served as an executive board member of the Chicago chapter of the American Committee of Italian Migration. In 1963. I chaired an immigration rally held in the Arie Crown Theater in Chicago which was attended by more than 5.000 people. Senator PAUL DOUGLAS. of Illinois. and a chief proponent of revised immigration law. delivered the keynote speech. This great rally sparked a move in all major cities in these United States. and as a result. more people have become aware of the injustices of our present immigration policy. Week after week. I have inserted into great Americans. sons of immigrants. Italian. Polish. Greek. and Irish. to name only a few nationalities. who have contributed and continue to contribute to the distinction of America. Men of prestige. too numerous to list. are sons of immigrant tailors. shoemakers. laborers. These great men have risen to the highest positions in both the Government and business world. It is with a warm feeling in my heart. and a joy that I rise this afternoon in support of H.R. 2580.