Speech #910087000

Mr. Speaker. today I have introduced H.R. 13999 which will amend section 212(a) (14) of the Immigration and Nationality Act. as amended. Section 212(a) (14) presently requires special labor certification for most potential immigrants other than relatives of U.S. citizens or of permanent resident aliens. The labor certification primarily affects prospective immigrants in the sixth preference and nonpreference categories. The sixth preference provides for individuals who are capable of performing specified skilled or unskilled labor. not of a temporary or seasonal nature. for which sufficient workers are not able. willing. qualified. and available in the United States at the time the alien files a visa application. The labor certification provision also applies to many prospective immigrants seeking third preference visas. The third preference is available for professional persons or persons with exceptional ability in the arts or sciences. Several years of operation of the act of October 3. 1965. have clearly demonstrated that the traditional patterns of immigration have been significantly altered since its effective date. Immigration from countries which enjoyed large quotas under the national origins quota system has fallen off drastically. Under the old law. there was no labor certification requirement. To a great degree. imposition of this requirement has resulted in the changing patterns of immigration. Traditionally. the countries with large numerical quotas sent many young adults. possessing no particular skill or experience. These "new seed" immigrants then took jobs as laborers. railroad workers. waiters. and numerous other unskilled positions. Prom such humble beginnings. many subsequently achieved great fame and great wealth. while contributing immeasurably to the growth of the United States. The abolition of the national origins quota system coupled with the advent of the labor certification provision drastically reduced the flow of immigrants from the previously favored nations. Labor certifications were not issued for the types of unskilled labor previously performed by the "new seed" immigrants. The U.S. Department of Labor had determined that there was not a shortage of domestic labor in these unskilled occupational categories.