Speech #890136563

Without my amendment. or without its substance. it would be difficult for me to support the pending bill with any enthusiasm whatsoever. But with this amendment. I can support the pending bill with enthusiasm. because I know that it is the best bill upon immigration that can be obtained for our Nation at present. First Timothy. verse 8. gives us some advice that we should follow in enacting an immigration law. It is more timely than the great poem by Emma Lazarus. which is inscribed upon the monument on Ellis Island. This world is confronted at thismoment by a population explosion. and soon millions of immigrants will be begging for. indeed demanding. admission to the United States. The United States will have trouble providing employment for its own expanding and increasing population. Therefore. this is the opportune time to enact an immigration law which Is based upon the theory that we should restrict immigration to Immigrants whose presence here will reunite families already partially in America and immigrants who have some real contribution to make by reason of their skills to the economic welfare of America. We should fashion our immigration law in accord with the interests of the United States. and the interests of the United States alone. and not our supposition as to what the thoughts or desires of some people in foreign countries may be. I believe the writer of First Timothy had this in mind when he said. in chapter 5. verse 8: If any provide not for his own. and specially for those of his own house. he hath denied the faith. and is worse than an infidel. In advocating the passage of the bill in its present form. I am appealing to the Senate to look after those of our own household by enacting an Immigration law which takes cognizance of matters of the heart Insofar as it will result In uniting families now divided. and which takes cognizance of the best interests of the United States in restricting other immigration to those who have something to contribute to the economic and cultural development of our Nation. Mr. President. in answer to the earlier inquiry of the senior Senator from Tennessee . page 48 of the annual report of the Immigration Service shows that immigration from South America in 1955 was 5.500. In 1960. the number jumped to 13.000. In 1964. it jumped to 31.102.