Speech #900282124

Mr. Speaker. at the time of the enactment of our new immigration law 2 years ago. it was anticipated that in all probability certain adjustments would have to be made predicated upon the actual experience gained from administering the law. I think it is a tribute to all who helped write the present legislation that the act has been most successful in achieving a sound and equitable basis for admitting aliens to this country. The elimination of the deplorable national origins quota system has helped the United States to improve immeasurably its foreign image and proves conclusively the beneficial results predicted at the time of the laws enactment. One problem not foreseen by any of us prior to the laws enactment was the development of a serious backlog of Italian brothers and sisters anxious to Join their kinfolk in this country. Although efforts were made to reduce this backlog they were not completely successful. It is apparent that to meet this problem related primarily to Italian migrants some legislative changes must be made. Mr. Speaker. I introduced corrective legislation as did others. I believe my proposalH.R. 13388will constitute a reasonable amendment to the existing law by helping to reduce the backlog of deserving Italian applicants without jeopardizing the possibilities of applicants of other nationalities for taking advantage of immigration opportunities offered to them. My proposal would not increase the total number of immigrants presently allowable under the provisions of the law. The legislative change in my proposal is quite simple. It would provide "special immigrant" status to beneficiaries of petitions approved for one of the preferences under section 203 (a) (1) through (6) of the act if such petition had been filed prior to October 3. 1965. and to their accompanying spouses and children. provided that the beneficiary is still entitled to the status established in the approved petition. I sincerely hope that the House Committee on the Judiciary will take appropriate action on these remedial proposals. I am confident that this body and the other body as well will give such legislation hearty and speedy endorsement.