Speech #920162872

Mr. Speaker. I rise to offer my congratulations to my good friend. the distinguished gentleman from New Jersey . chairman of the Subcommittee on Immigration and Nationality. on his excellent leadership as chairman of the 20th anniversary session of the Intergovernmental Committee for European Migration. This was the second time in the 20year history of ICEM that an American was elected to serve in this important capacity. In 1960. the first American elected to serve as chairman was the late Honorable Francis E. Walter. of Pennsylvania. who was considered a founding father of ICEM. PETER RODINO has faithfully attended every ICEM Council session as a congressional adviser since 1963. Furthermore. he has made field trips to numerous refugee camps where he has personally witnessed the suffering. confusion. and despair of refugees who are caught in the turmoil of the present and have but little hope for the future. Because of his expertise in immigration matters. his widespread experience in refugee problems. and his concern for humanity. he was an unqualified choice to serve as chairman of the 20th anniversary Council session of this indispensable humanitarian organization. which .has assisted over 1.8 million persons to find opportunities for fruitful lives. I am proud to have had the opportunity. once again. to have served as a congressional adviser to the U.S. delegation to ICEM. ICEM is an organization which has recognized the principle of freedom of movement and the right of every man to choose the place where he would like to live and raise his family. ICEM brings together a multilateral approach in assisting refugees and migrants to find. prepare. and integrate into the land of their choice. I was pleased that in the course of debate. U.S. representative. Ambassador Francis Kellogg. Special Assistant to the Secretary for Refugee and Migration Affairs. Department of State. made. what I consider a very significant policy statement regarding the Soviet Jews. I would like at this time to bring it to the attention of my colleagues.