Speech #900189305

Mr. Speaker. yesterday I introduced special legislation to authorize the immediate entry into the United States of 2.000 natives of Italy and their families who have lost their homes and livelihoods as a result of the tragic earthquakes in Sicily some 10 days ago. As a member of the House Immigration Subcommittee. I studied the possibilities for action and decided on the route of special legislation because use of existing provisions of law would count the number of earthquake victim immigrants against the ceiling on Italian immigration. Special visas issued to these distressed aliens would be outside any ceiling on immigration. but prospective immigrants to benefit from the bill would still have to fulfill the eligibility qualifications for immigration under present law as to health. good character. et cetera. My bill makes available 2.000 special immigrant visas only to those earthquake victims uprooted from their homes and in urgent need of assistance to obtain the essentials of life. The wives and children of such aliens would also be issued special visas. The legislation might therefore benefit some 10.000 to 20.000 people. on the basis of the best available estimates of the number of people suffering from the earthquake who would want to emigrate from Italy. There is clearly established precedent for this type of special legislation. for in 1958 a similar bill was enacted to help the Portuguese victims of volcanic eruptions in the Azores. This situation is equally tragic. for the victims of this disaster have lost their homes. their jobs. and have no future to look forward to in their impoverished and underdeveloped homeland. It is legislation in the best tradition of Americas humanitarian policy of offering a haven to the distressed and suffering. and to victims or refugees from disaster or tyranny. Mr. Speaker. many of the earthquake victims are also close relatives of U.S. citizens who have encountered long delay in obtaining visas to join their families in the United States. I am hopeful that my bill will not only help alleviate the distress and suffering of these unfortunate victims of disaster. but will also result in the reunification of families which have been separated for many years.