Speech #890138271

Epileptics are removed from the excludable class of aliens. Eighth. Alien crewmen are made eligible for adjustment of their immigration status under section 244 of the Immigration and Nationality Act. Ninth. Aliens who have resided in the United States prior to June 28. 1958. are made eligible for adjustment of immigration status under registry proceedings of section 249 of the Immigration and Nationality Act. Tenth. Natives of Western Hemisphere countries in general are denied the privilege of adjusting their status under section 245 of the Immigration and Nationality Act. but refugees from such countries may adjust. Since this bill has the blessing of the administration. I believe it would be appropriate at this time to refer to the message of the President of the United States which he sent to the Congress on January 13. 1965. requesting amendment of the Immigration and Nationality Act. In that statement the President said: The principal reform called for is the elimination of the national origins quota system. There cofild be no doubt in anyones mind after reading the proposed bill that it would accomplish the purpose desired by the President. for it is crystal clear that the national origins quota system would be abolished. Since that is true. my purpose will be to take a careful look at the act to see what its substitute would be. In doing this. let us bear in mind the words of the President that: The fundamental longtime attitude has been to ask not where a person comes from but what are his personal qualities. As used in the context of his message requesting that all forms of discrimination be removed from the law. we would expect. therefore. that the bill before the Senate would not only abolish the national origins quota system. but would replace it with a law which would make no distinction between the peoples of the earth because of their place of birth in any form whatoever. In an attempt to carry out the request of the President. we find that section 2 of the bill has amended section 202 of the Immigration and Nationality Act to provide as follows: (a) No person shall receive any preference or priority or be discriminated against in the issuance of. an immigrant visa because of his race. sex. nationality. place of birth. or place of residence. except as specifically provided in section 101(a) (27). section 201(b). and section 203: Provided. That the total number of immigrant visas and the number of conditional entries made available to natives of any single foreign state under paragraphs (1) through (8) of section 203(a) shall not exceed 20.000 in any fiscal year: Provided further. That the foregoing proviso shall not operate to reduce the number of immigrants who may be admitted under the quota of any quota area before June 30. 1968. Mr. President. in all of my experience in the Senate of the United States.