Speech #890120793

Mr. Chairman. I wholeheartedly support H.R. 2580. as amended. which offers a humanitarian and practical solution to the long overdue revision of our basic immigration law as called for by Presidents Eisenhower. Kennedy. and Johnson. H.R. 2580. as amended. meets every objective of the major recommendations of the administration. It eliminates the national origins quota system during a transition period of 3 years. it eliminates the notorious AsiaPacific Triangle. it maintains nonquota status for close relatives of American citizens. adding to this category. parents of American citizens. it maintains nonquota status for the Western Hemisphere. it makes provision for a reasonable number of refugees from Communistdominated areas. and the Middle East to find a haven in the United States. at approximately the same rate as during the past several years. It accomplishes all these things without significantly increasing the ceiling on immigration to the United States. which is presently 158.000 persons and. under the new law. would be 170.000. At the same time. it makes possible a continued flow to the United States of persons whose professions. skills. and trades are badly needed by our expanding economy. without in anyway creating a danger of increasing unemployment. As Secretary of Labor Willard Wirtz testified before the House Subcommittee. under this bill. a maximum of 23.000 new workers would enter the labor marketa tiny fraction of the total American labor force. and a very high proportion of even this modest number would bring to our shores much needed skills. Our country has always greatly benefited from the contribution of immigrants and children of immigrants to every field of endeavorthe arts. sciences. education. industry. labor. and to the very Government itself. Including highranking members of the administration. and distinguished Members of the House of Representatives and Senate. I am especially pleased to remind the House that this bill has the backing of the major Catholic. Jewish. Protestant. as well as nonsectarian voluntary immigration agencies who. as representatives of the vast majority of the American people. have been engaged for *many years in assistance to immigrants. aliens. and refugees. in this country and overseas. Last year. in testimony before the Subcommittee on Immigration and Nationality. representatives of the Committee on Refugee and Migration Problems of the American Council of Voluntary Agencies for Foreign Service. stated: The voluntary agencies believe that the basic provisions in the proposed legislation will not only eliminate the discriminatory national origins quota system. but that they will constructively change our immigration laws so that they serve the common good of our people and reflect what is best for the interests of the United States both domestically and internationally. This proposed legislation will also. we believe. provide the necessary flexibility which is needed in a rapidly changing world. It has become almost commonplace for Members of Congress. Government officials. agencies working with aliens. immigrants. and refugees. as well as private citizens. to state that for too long a period Americas immigration and nationality laws have conflicted with our traditional American ideals. As the Honorable EMANUEL CELLER. chairman of the House Committee on the Judiciary. said in his statement before the May 1964 Geneva Council Session of the Intergovernmental Committee for European Migration: "Until we write into our law books an immigration statute which will be worthy of the traditions of the United States and of our considerable responsibility in the world today. until we do that we deny that famous phrase in our Declaration of Independence which says All men are created equal. The national origins theory states all men are not created equal because it gives preference to some and metes out discrimination and proscription to others." It is the firm belief of the agencies working in the field of immigration and refugees that the goal of world peace and brotherhood in this or any other generation can be furthered only in a climate of increasing understanding and good will among nations. important in the area of international relations are immigration policies and procedures. Inevitably a nations immigration laws reflect its basic attitude toward nations and races. In conclusion. we might simply point to the remarks made by President Johnson on January 13. 1964. when he met at the White House with representatives of organizations interested in immigration and refugee matters. The President said: This is a Nation that was really built by immigrants. immigrants from all lands. and that is why we should ask those who seek to immigrate now what can you do for our country? What we ought never to ask is: in what country were you born? I am informed that in a letter to Congressman MICHAEL FEIGHAN. chairman of the House subcommittee. dated May 5. 1965. these organizations reaffirmed their support of H.R. 2580 and urge its passage at the earliest possible date. While it is proper to emphasize the humanitarian aspects of the revision of our immigration laws. the proposal before the House does more than that. At a time when America is making every effort to maintain its friendly ties with all the nations of the free world. indeed to improve its image all over the world. there could be no greater proof that America is true to its democratic and liberal traditions. than the passage of this bill. In casting our votes in favor of H.R. 2580. we are casting our votes for the security and wellbeing of America and the free world.