Speech #900225644

Mr. Speaker. on Friday. March 29. it was my privilege to address the American Immigration and Citizenship Conference at its annual meeting held at the Hotel WaldorfAstoria in New York City. By leave granted. I insert in the RECORD my address on "Immigration and Nationality: Current Concerns": Mr. Toastmaster. Justice Ken Keating. my very able and distinguished former colleague on the Immigration Subcommittee. members of the Clergy. honored guests and friends. the Chairman of the Subcommittee of the Judiciary which has jurisdiction over immigration and naturalization matters has a constituency in addition to those in the Congressional district in his own state whom he represents in Congress. I am here this morning to report on my activities and my plans to that constituency. the membership of the American Immigration and Citizenship Conference. The work of the Subcommittee can be subdivided and analyzed In any number of ways but I propose to cover the subject under three main headings: immigration. temporary admissions to the United States. and citizenship. When the Congress passed the Act of October 3. 1965. It was understood that this law abolishing the National Origins Quota System did not bring to an end the tasks of the Subcommittee In this area. However. the variety and extent of the issues which would spur off from that law were not fully appreciated by anyone. In another ninety days the Act of October 3. 1965 will become fully operative. The patterns which have governed immigration for the less than fifty percent of the immigrants from the Eastern Hemisphere under the "pool" provisions of that law will thereafter control all immigration from that area. The specially reserved numbers for Immigration from Northern and Western European countries will no longer be in force and effect and the new trend In immigration. by class and national groupings. Indicated in shadowy outline during the past two and a half years. will more clearly emerge. Already. rumblings of discontent and disenchantment with the prospects are beginning to be heard. much of it from those whose support was so strongly felt and so necessary to enact the law in the first place. Some steps may be necessary to restore a greater balance to the Immigration mix but the prospects of any return to a mostfavorednation concept Is out of the question. The passage of the Act did result In the immediate removal of all backlogs which were then In existence with the single exception of the Italian fifth preference. This was exactly what we had proposed would happen.