Speech #890120771

We have cut excise taxes and provided for our elderly citizens by passing the historic bill on medicare. Today we are on the threshold of passing another historic measure. which has not been radically amended since Its enactment in 1924. I speak of the pending Immigration and Nationality Act. This bill has farreaching effects and shall be one of the monumental endeavors of this Congress. The Immigration and Nationality Act is an important part of President Johnsons program and I am sure it will receive overwhelming support when this House votes upon this measure. The main feature of this legislation is the termination of the nationalorigins quota system which has damaged the image of America as a place of opportunity and freedom. Upon the passage of this bill. this system which has long reflected an attitude of ethnic bigotry will be wiped from the statute books. Another significant change made by this bill is in relation to the immigration of persons who are members of the professions or have exceptional ability in the sciences and arts. In the field of qualified immigrants "capable of performing specified skills or unskilled labor. not of a temporary or seasonal nature for which a shortage of employable and willing persons exists in the United States." This legislation will go a long way in reuniting families now being kept apart by existing regulations. We have seen definite hardships among those families whose loved ones had to remain behind while other members of the family were permitted to emigrate to the United States. This injustice will be corrected by the pending bill. Another injustice under the present law would be corrected by this measure. that of assigning unused quota numbers to countries which have already used up all the numbers assigned. and eliminate the discrimination against newly independent countries of the Western Hemisphere by providing nonquota status for natives of Jamaica. Trinidad. and Tobago. Opponents of this legislation would want us to believe that this bill. if enacted into law. would open the gates to floodlike proportions of prospective immigrants. This is a gross misrepresentation because it is estimated that about only 7.000 authorized quota immigrants would be added to the present number of immigrants. In this bill we are seeking an immigration policy which will reflect Americas ideal of equality of all men without regard to race. color. creed. or national origin. through which we can accomplish two purposes. First. We would enhance Americas image as a leader of the free world in according equal dignity and respect to all people of the world. and thus take a significant stride forward in our international relations. Second. We would recognize the individual worth of each immigrant and his ability to contribute to the development and growth of our national economy. These basic changes in the American immigration policy are long overdue and the revision of our present immigration laws is a logical extension of our efforts to achieve our ideal of equality. I have high hopes that this House will not permit the adoption of any amendments to this bill which would cripple our efforts in providing a just and equal immigration policy. It is my hope that by nightfall of this date we will have asserted ourselves to equal rights of all peoples of the world.