Far from it. By the millions they have come to these shores and they have made this country a better place by their presence. To think of Americans of Italian heritage. or any other group for that matter. leads inevitably to thoughts of immigration. I think we can all be proud. Mr. Speaker. of the role this 89th Congress has fulfilled in passing our new immigration law which President Johnson signed into being at the Statue of Liberty in New York Harbor on October 3. 1965. To my colleagues. who. like myself. had been introducing improved immigration legislation for more than a decade. it was a moment of sincere satisfaction. On December 1. 1965. Mr. Speaker. I had another moment of satisfaction when the first visa was issued under the new law. It went to. coincidentally enough. another 29yearold Italian seaman. one Salvatore Esposito who now resides in my district. Is it not ironic. Mr. Speaker. that on an island in a harbor discovered by a 29yearold Italian seaman over 400 years ago President Johnson in 1965 signed a law which allowed another 29yearold Italian seaman to join his family in the United States? The new immigration bill passed by this Congress and signed into law by President Johnson was a measure dear to his heart. -In the fall of 1964 President Johnson met with a group of civic leaders of Italian heritage who were seeking approval of a commemorative stamp in honor of Verrazano. President Johnson said at that time: We are committed to eliminating discrimination in our society. I believe we should also eliminate discrimination in the laws relating to those who would join our society from abroad.
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immigration visa