Mr. President. I offer today a very simple bill. one which amends the first sentence of section 255 of the Immigration and Nationality Act by striking out the word "epilepsy." This is the section of the immigration law dealing with employment of aliens on passenger vessels and aircraft. Persons of foreign nationality are forbidden such employment if they are afflicted with a number of illnesses such as tuberculosis. leprosy. or if they are mentally retarded. In the revisions of the law in 1966. a comparable listing of afflictions which prevent immigration of aliens was revised and in the revision the word "epilepsy" was dropped. But. presumably by oversight. It was retained in this section although a modem understanding and treatment of epilepsy makes it no longer properly such a barrier.
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