Speech #910138870

Speaker. on December 10. John P. Collins. national chairman of the American Irish National Immigration Committee. appeared before the Subcommittee on Immigration and Nationality of the Judiciary Committee to testify on experience under the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965. He was accompanied by representatives of chapters of the American Irish National Immigration Committee from all across the Nationfrom New York to San Francisco. including Chicago and Dayton in the heartland of America. all of which have urged Congress to act to overcome unanticipated and inequitable effects of the Immigration and Nationality Act of John Collins is no stranger to the subcommittee for he made an equally eloquent statement before it on July 3. 19683 days after the 1965 act went fully into effect. Almost 2 years ago. I Introduced legislation in the 90th Congress to make additional visas available to nationals of those countries where the average immigration had sharply declined as a result of the 1965 Immigration and Nationality Act. This year. on the opening day of Congress. I again introduced this legislation as H.R. 165. Seventyseven Members of the House are either cosponsors of the bill. or its companion bills. or have introduced identical bills. A list of sponsors will be appended at the conclusion of my remarks. H.R. 165 makes sure that no nation would suffer a severe reduction in its level of immigration to the United States as a result of the provisions of the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965. The bill provides that a "floor" would be established for every nation. based on its average level of immigration to the United States during the decade prior to the enactment of the 1965 act. that is. during the years 1956 through 1965. The floor would in no way be based on the former quota. but only on the actual numbers which came in during these years. The bill provides a floor equivalent to 75 percent of the annual average level of immigration during the 195665 base period. or 10.000 individuals. whichever is less. To the extent that immigration falls below the floor for a given fiscal year. extra numbers of visa spacesabove and independent of the worldwide quotawould be provided the following year. so that total immigration reaches the established floor. I wish to emphasize again that H.R. 165 is not in any way a return to the old national origins quota systemwhich quite properly was abolished in 1965. Under the 1965 act. however. the immigration preferences are drawn in such a way that much of the potential immigration from Western European countries cannot meet the qualifications of various categories. particularly those involving labor certification. This is no more equitable than the national origins quota system. which screened out people from sections of the world such as Africa and Asia. In the case of Ireland. which sent an average of 7.000 immigrants during the base period 195665. about 5.300 places. or 75 percent of the base period average. would be established as the floor for Irish immigration. No country whose immigration levels had improved as a result of the 1965 act would be adversely affected. As predicted. Irish immigration has continued to decline. In fiscal year 1969. only 538 preference and nonpreference visas were issued in Dublin to immigrants born in Ireland. Yet. in 1965. when the new Immigration and Nationality Act was being considered in the Congress. the Department of State assured Congress that under its provisions Ireland would be able to qualify for approximately 5.200 places per year. If the State Department projections had been accurate. it would not be necessary to take remedial action. The need for corrective action is apparent. H.R. 165 would effectively achieve that corrective action. The widespread support for this legislation evidenced by the fact that there are 77 cosponsors makes it also apparent that many Members of Congress are concerned that remedial action be taken. H.R. 165. by correcting the deficiencies in the present law. would insure continuance of new seed immigration. not only from Ireland. but from every other nation which has suffered a decline as a result of the 1965 act. It would equalize our immigration policy. the imbalances of which have produced the precipitous decline. So that my colleagues will understand the need for prompt congressional action. I include at this point in the RECORD the very persuasive. and ably presented. testimony of John P. Collins. national chairman of the American Irish National Immigration Committee: