Speech #900135352

Speaker. let us now at the end of 2 years. take stock of the results of this legislation. First. we have all been exceedingly gratified to witness the unifying effect which this act has had upon our citizens. both old and new. No longer are immigrants subjected to their erstwhile "secondclass citizen" status. No longer must naturalized American citizens be subjected to the painful realization that because of race or country of birth their parents or their brothers or sisters are to be denied the opportunity to join them and reestablish a family unity. At no period of our history has this unifying process been of greater national interest and value than today. Second. we read and heard with great gratification the praise heaped upon this country for the steps taken in removing the prejudicial and unfair barriers which were a virtual slap in the face to many of our otherwise friendly nations. Public officials and press all over the world heralded the signing of the act as a positive demonstration of our oft repeated tenets of freedom and justice for all mankind and still speak of it in glowing terms. Thus. we can rejoice that the Presidents signature on the National Immigration Act did much to create and restore an improved American image throughout the world. Third. we can be gratified that. except for a large number of brothers and sisters of Italian Americans. all the admissible people who were on the long waiting lists 2 years ago have now been issued visas. Mr. Speaker. with 2 years of experience in the administration of this law. some defects and shortcomings have been detected and must be corrected. such as the situation with regard to Irish immigrants. but the law as a whole has proven to be a marked improvement over the discriminatory immigration laws of 1952 and 1924 which it superseded. Since the act provides for the abolishment of the national quotas in July 1968. the Congress should begin now to review those facets of the law which are in need of adjustments. Certainly this is true if President Johnsons interpretation of the bill which he gave at Liberty Island is to be truly meaningful: This bill says simply that from this day forth. those wishing to immigrate to America shall be admitted on the basis of their skills and their close relationship to those already here. So long as almost 200.000 applications are backlogged. of which approximately half are Italian brother and sister cases. we must ascertain what remedial steps are necessary. The other half of the backlog represents a variety of professions. skills. and semiskills. The cause of the backlogging of these cases needs to be determined. Certainly. we in the Congress must review with the State Department visa office and the Immigration and Naturalization Service the complete administration of this law. Predicated upon the experience of the past 2 years. we must provide whatever adjustments are necessary. One corrective measure should have immediate attention. Early in January. I again proposed in the pending bill H.R. 1. certain steps to be taken to recognize the contribution which young immigrants must make in the form of compulsory military service in the Armed Forces of this their newly adopted country after 1 years residence. This country was born of the struggle of our Founding Fathers against "taxation without representation." Today we are demanding of these young men that they subject themselves to the possibility of making the supreme sacrifice of their lives yet without recognizing them as citizens. and without affording them the same rights enjoyed by fellow veterans. They may not become officers. nor on separation from the service may they enjoy the veterans preference in civil service job applications.