Speech #920194524

I would urge that it be defeated on the grounds that its inclusion would seriously undermine the very essence of H.R. 9615. As an original cosponsor of the legislation. I am particularly concerned that we act at once to terminate the hardships we have caused by so severely limiting visas to those countries which formerly enjoyed preferential status. Over the past months. Americans have expressed their deep dismay over the continued hostilities in Northern Ireland and many have petitioned the government there to end its discriminatory practices. I. myself. have spoken out on numerous occasions to oppose discrimination on any front and to urge the government of Northern Ireland to correct the prevailing inequities. I believe H.R. 9615. by opening the door to America for many of those who wish to escape this tyranny. can be a positive statement of our Nations concern for the Northern Ireland minority. Similarly. there are many ItalianAmericans in this country who have been separated from their friends and families because the existing immigration law limits so severely the number of visas available. Mr. Chairman. Italy has long been the subject of discriminatory policies where our immigration laws have been concerned. Prior to 1965. under the socalled national origins quota system. Italy accumulated a backlog of nearly 22.000 visas. Then. when we revised our immigration standards with the 1965 act. no provision was included to correct this glaring inequity and Italian immigration since 1965 has slowed to a near halt. Today. the Congress has the opportunity to rectify this tragic situation. H.R. 9615 would provide additional visas to accomm( date nearly all this backlog. Mr. Chairman. the bill H.R. 9615 is. I believe. a fair and realistic approach to immigration to the United States. It recognizes and corrects past inequities in the law that have worked needlessly to prevent immigration to the United States and it accommodates as well as the realities of the future by placing a 4year limitation for distribution of the additional visas. Thus. we have before us a bill that would serve to equalize. during its period of effectiveness immigration opportunities for those who have formerly been denied and will as well facilitate conversion to the new policy as provided in the 1965 Immigration Act. For these reasons. I therefore urge my distinguished colleagues to join with me in voting for passage of this important legislation.