Speech #910018682

Mr. Speaker. I have today introduced a comprehensive immigration bill to establish rational new preference categories by which immigrants can seek admission to the United States. Experience has demonstrated that existing preferences of the Immigration and Nationality Act are out of balance with our avowed immigration policy of reuniting families and offering preference to skilled aliens who have much to offer the United States. Moreover. countries of Western EuropeIreland. for examplehave been denied an equitable opportunity to send Immigrants to the United States. The Irish will procure decided relief. This will. in seeking the necessary revisions. move toward a greater flexibility in our immigration law. We. in our tradition. must make it possible for those who cannot come to the bosom of a family or within a preference. that is. the young. the brave. who follow a star. to come to enrich our culture as many did before. These from Ireland. England. Italy. the Scandinavian countries have much to give. and we have much to receive. My proposal will relieve the mounting pressure for immigration reform by wiping out the long waiting list for relative preference visas. and. with a new preference system. all intending Immigrants will henceforth be able to compete for visas on a fair and reasonable basis. A drop down of visa numbers from one preference to another will eliminate wasted visas and will insure a full utilization of visa numbers and the availability of visas for young newseed immigrants who seek an opportunity to come to our great country. More than 60.000 visa numbers. it is estimated. will drop down to ease immigration opportunities for persons unable to secure visas. The new immigrant provisions are complemented by changes In the nonpreference categories to authorize the admission of fianc6es of U.S. citizens and permanent resident aliens. the admission of skilled temporary workers whose services it has been determined are urgently needed to fill employment gaps. and by objective refugee provisions. Specifically the bill provides: First. Admission outside of quotas for brothers and sisters of U.S. citizens who are beneficiaries of petitions filed prior to January 1. 1969.