Speech #900140284

The urgency of many provisions in the bill finds a telling story in my files as it must in the files of many of my colleagues. A compelling priority in any reform bill is the urgent need to facilitate the reunion of families. Senator KENNEDYS bill meets the objective through the Board of Visa Appeals. the according of preference status to parents of permanent aliens. and other provisions as wellincluding the section which will wipe out the backlog in the fifth preference for brothers and sisters of U.S. citizens. which accumulated under the national origins system. The bills stress on broadening the scope of individual rights and equity. especially through a statute of limitations on deportation and the anticipated overhaul of nationality and naturalization policy. is reason enough the bill should claim broad support. It serves no useful purpose to keep a void in our deportation policy. or to continue the statutory attitude of secondclass citizenship toward naturalized aliens in our midst. Thirdly. I am especially pleased to note the provision to expedite the naturalization of noncitizens serving in our Armed Forces during the Vietnam war. Here it is just a question of bringing the law up to date. And finally. the bill reflects a needed concern and sensitivity to the continuing problem of refugees throughout the world. As a former chairman of the Judiciary Subcommittee on Refugees. I can assure my colleagues that the authority provided in the bill is a needed instrument in our foreign policy. Additionally. it is a true reflection of all Americas concern for the homeless and the oppressed. In conclusion. let me add my support to Senator KENNEDYS belief that the labor clearance and the allocation of visas in the preference system get the close scrutiny of the Immigration Subcommittee. On the first matter. I raised my concern on the floor of this Chamber and with the Secretary of Labor early last year.