Speech #890184550

Mr. Chairman. I join with you and the committee today. together with the members of our congressional delegation who I am sure feel as I doa deep sense of personal satisfaction as well as a sense of modest pridefor. but a few hours ago as the clock tolled the first hour of December 1. 1965. in my country a new immigration policy became effective. And as a member of that subcommittee in which this new policy was conceived and as a dedicated proponent of immigration reform. which is in keeping with the tradition of my country. I am particularly proud to appear before this Council and stress the intent of this historic piece of legislation. Although the measure is but a few hours old it has been developing. as programs must. over many years. And though casting the old national origins theory out of the window was long overdue. nonetheless. I offer no apology for none is needed for what the United States has done over the years in the field of immigration and refugees. For each new Congress since the closing days of World War II has enthusiastically enacted legislation to further the traditional policy of the United States in coming to the aid of the unsettled and the victims of world turmoil. Congress progressively enacted special legislation to permit the reuniting of families and to help the refugees. These special laws supplemented the basic immigration law and provided for the admission. generally on a nonquota basis. of immigrants of different races and circumstances as well as the unfortunate who have been uprooted and displaced by political upheavals.