Speech #890139603

President. I refer to the committee report and the description contained in the report concerning section 8 of the bill. It reads as follows: Section 8 of the bill amends section 101 of the Immigration and Nationality Act. Section 101(a) (27) of that act. which defines "nonquota immigrant." is amended to eliminate the term "nonquota immigrant." and insert in lieu thereof "special immigrant." Therefore. natives of independent countries of the Western Hemisphere. returning resident aliens. certain former citizens of the United States. ministers of religion. and certain retired employees of the U.S. Government abroad previously referred to as "nonquota immigrants." will henceforth be referred to as "special immigrants." Before we get into the question of the merits of this amendment. I wish to be absolutely sure of what we are talking about. Are we sure that under this amendment we would not take the figure of 170.000 and reduce it by the number of special immigrants. which for the general purpose of discussion includes Western Hemisphere and certain others under section 101? Are we sure that we would not be taking the 170.000 and reducing it by 120.000. because that number of Western Hemisphere immigrants would fall within the definition of special immigrants as defined by the legislation? If that is not correct. I believe that the amendment would be a bit unrealistic at this point.