Mr. President. a few months ago. I noted with great pleasure and satisfaction that after 4 years of experience under the historic Immigration Reform Act of 1965. immigration to the United States from all over the world has become more evenly distributed. This result unequivocally attests to the fact that we have achieved one of the principal avowed purposes of the new law. that is. to wipe out all traces of racial discrimination from our laws and policies. However. as the distinguished and able senior Senator from Massachusetts has so eloquently pointed out. a number of shortcomings still exist in our basic immigration law. Some of these shortcomings were noted during the consideration of the 1965 act. but those of us who strongly favored that law decided not to push them at that time. because we felt that the more basic reforms should come first. Now that these basic changes have been accomplished. I believe that it is timely for the Congress to consider and promptly enact further corrective legislation. to plug most of the loopholes which still exist in our laws. I am pleased. therefore. to join Senator KENNEDY and Senator HART in sponsoring an omnibus bill to achieve the following ends: First. To reinforce and clarify the system of allocation of visas which we first enacted in 1965. to extend this system to applicants in countries of both the Western and Eastern Hemispheres. all on a firstcome. firstserved basis. Second. To recognize the tremendous transnational growth of business. educational. artistic. and other organizations by facilitating entry on a temporary basis of nonimmigrant personnel who possess ability. skills. and ideas required in the Nation.
Keywords matched
Immigration immigration visas