Speech #900235410

I would like at this time to commend the gentleman from New York. the Honorable EMANUEL CELLER. chairman of the House Judiciary Committee. for the constructive suggestions he has made to alleviate the problems confronting the Irish. I am sure that the suggestions made by Chairman CELLER will do much to bolster the sharply declining rate of migration from Ireland. It is acknowledged that many defects exist in the 1965 amendments to the Immigration and Nationality Act. and in my conversations with Chairman CELLER he has assured me that his committee is working toward correction of these inequities and further liberalization of the immigration law. Certain changes must be made for those seeking to enter the country under the sixth- and fifthpreference categories. In. order to alleviate the backlog of sixthpreference applications. I introduced H.R. 2765 on January 18. 1967. to eliminate the labor certification requirement. This is a costly and cumbersome procedure. and my bill would authorize returning to the old law whereby the Labor Department informs the Justice Department of particular occupations which have an oversupply of labor. and individual labor certification is not necessary. Therefore. the Immigration and Naturalization Service is able more readily and more speedily to approve the entry of skilled and semiskilled labor into particular areas of the United States which are experiencing labor shortages. The labor certification requirement has not only increased Government paperwork. without benefiting our immigration and labor practices. but over a period of almost 3 years has actually restricted immigration to the United States. For too long brothers and sisters have been separated. and we must make an effort to unite these brothers and sisters. It is true that under the new immigration law we are uniting mothers. fathers. sons. and daughters. but a tremendous backlog has developed under the fifthpreference category of the law which relates to the immigration of brothers and sisters of U.S. citizens. If the present law is not changed. many of these brothers and sisters will have to wait 10 to 20 years before they are permitted to enter the United States. In order to alleviate the problem which has developed for fifthpreference applicants. I introduced H.R. 13622 on October 23. 1967. to allow any of these brothers and sisters who had priority dates before December 1. 1965. to be classified as special immigrants and to come to the United States without further delay. This would eliminate the backlog of fifthpreference applicants and permit brothers and sisters who have been long separated to be reunited. Our countrys greatness has been built on the contributions of our immigrants. and halting the flow of immigration under any category could only result in restricting the growth and prosperity of our Nation. I want to assure the distinguished gentleman from New York. my good friend and colleague . that I shall continue to work vigorously to bring relief to the Irish immigrant as well as to correct any other inequities which exist in the present immigration law.