Speech #910239873

Mr. Speaker. the Immigration and Nationality Subcommittee of the Committee on the Judiciary will begin hearings on July 15 and 16. 1970 at 10 a.m. in room 2237. Rayburn Building. In 1965. the Congress first imposed a ceiling of 120.000 immigrants from the Western Hemisphere. Currently. all applicants for visa from the Western Hemisphere face approximately a 1year wait for issuance of a visa. Unlike the system devised for Eastern Hemisphere immigration. no preference or priority system. based on relationships or skills. is applied to the Western Hemisphere. As part of the act of October 3. 1965. the Congress created a Select Commission on Western Hemisphere immigration. This Commission submitted a final report to the President and to the Congress on January 15. 1968. It is time to update and amplify the report of the Commission. Specifically. our purpose will be to examine the socioeconomic development of the constituent countries of the Western Hemisphere and their past and prospective patterns of immigration to the United States. Unemployment in the United States by occupation and industry. particularly in the southern tier of States which receive the bulk of Western Hemisphere immigration. must also be analyzed. The need for establishment of a preference system for the Western Hemisphere and the structure of such a preference system will be considered. as well as a per country numerical limitation. The subcommittee will be particularly interested in the comments concerning the establishment of a worldwide ceiling and unified preference system. Consequently. the subcommittee will consider the application of the present preference system on the Eastern Hemisphere and suggestions as to modification. The subject of refugees will be considered as it pertains to the preference system. The sections of H.R. 9112. H.R. 15092. and H.R. 17370. bills to amend the Immigration and Nationality Act will be considered in so far as they pertain to the subject of inquiry. July 15 and 16 will be set aside for Members of Congress. Later in the month. the subcommittee will hear the testimony of officials from the Department of State. the Department of Labor. the Department of Justice. Richard Scammons. former Chairman of the Select Commission on Western Hemisphere Immigration. the Association of Immigration and Nationality Lawyers. and other public witnesses.