Speech #900139884

Mr. Speaker. just 2 years ago this week President Johnson. in ceremonies before the Statue of Liberty in New York Harbor. signed into law a new immigration bill which brought an end to 40 years of discrimination. Of that new law President Johnson said: This bill says simply that from this day forth those wishing to emigrate to America shall be admitted on the basis of their skills and their close relationship to those already here. It is a simple test. It is a fair test ... the days of unlimited immigration are past. But those who will come will come because of what they arenot because of the land from which they sprung. I am happy and proud. Mr. Speaker. that I was able to be a sponsor of the legislation of which the President spoke. But immigration. as we well know. is a knotty problem and one which does not have cut and dried. black and white options. It is. as is any subject that vitally concerns the lives of many. a problem of compassion and understanding as well as a legal problem. In the main. the new law has worked well and righted many injusticesinjustices which were created In the first place by fear and the offspring of fear. prejudice. But the new law has also created some problems. particularly for brothers and sisters of U.S. citizens now living in Italy. As it stands now over 100.000 of these relatives and their spouses and children will have to wait 10 years or perhaps longer to enter the United States under a fifth preference immigration status. This category is heavily oversubscribed and I therefore am introducing legislation which I hope will break that logjam. The State Department Bulletin issued August 15. 1967. shows that as the immigration law stands now. Italian families are not being reunited. which was. after all. the purpose of the law. The Bulletin shows that while applicants from other countries whose petitions have been approved prior to July 1. 1966. can be admitted to the United States. petitions for brothers and sisters of American citizens of Italian descent can be admitted only if their petitions were approved prior to March 1.