Speech #900197009

Mr. Speaker. I am today introducing two bills to ease the restrictions on Italian and Irish immigration to the United States. Since the most recent changes in the Federal immigration law. several unduly restrictive situations have emerged with respect to Irish and Italian immigration to this country. In the first place. Ireland no longer enjoys the immigration quota it once did. Irish immigrants are now effectively confined to close relatives of American citizens and to skilled workers. Unskilled workers can only come to this country if the Secretry of Labor certifies that no American workers will be displaced. This is a basically good idea. but it enmeshes the prospective immigrant in unnecessary redtape. My first bill would allow such immigration unless the Secretary of Labor certifies that an American worker would be displaced in effect shifting the burden of proof. Of course. my bill changes the law for prospective immigrants of all national origins. but on the basis of past patterns. a large number of the persons affected would be Irish. My second bill changes the preference given to brothers and sisters of American citizens. restoring the preference to what it was before the 1965 immigration law changes. This change will be of great assistance to prospective immigrants from many nations. but especially from Italy. I believe that these are two of the most important inequities left by the 1965 immigration law changes and I hope that mine or similar bills can be passed to rectify them. Mendell Looks at Soil Conservation