Speech #910019034

Mr. Speaker. I rise as one of the cosponsors of H.R. 165to amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to authorize additional visas for immigrants from countries where average immigration has declined since passage of the 1965 Immigration Act amendments. The 89th Congress earned its place In history as a most productive Legislature and the landmark Immigration Act of 1965 was one reason. By abolishing the unfair national origins quota system. we removed an antiquated and discriminatory procedure. In the process. however. certain countries have been placed In a difficult positionmost notably Ireland. H.R. 165 would alleviate this problem by making additional visas available where in the past the rate of immigration has been much higher than its present rate. In the 10year period from 1956 to 1965. an average of 7.000 Irish immigrants received visas to enter the United States. This figure has been drastically reduced as a result of the first come first served principle of the 1965 amendment. While I support that general principle. I do not believe Congress intended to substantially curtail immigration from any nation. Only slightly over 200 immigrants from Ireland received visas during the last 6 months of 1968. While the Irish example Is the most shocking. other countries would benefit from this legislation. including most Northern European nations. The purpose of this special order is to bring the attention of the House to this problem.