Speech #920194595

I rise in opposition to the Dennis amendment. I should like to raise and support the chairman of the subcommittee. who brought the bill to the floor. I strongly endorse the provisions of H.R. 9615. to amend the Immigration Reform Act of 1965. In 1965 the Congress acted to end the harsh and inequitable national origins system for admitting immigrants. and in its place. a system which admits immigrants on a firstcomefirstserved basis was established. However. under this new system. certain countries. including Italy. Ireland. and Germany. have inadvertently been discriminated against. and so this new act will provide additional immigrant visas to correct these injustices. I am especially pleased that this bill will provide additional fifth preference visas. which are granted to foreign nationals whose brother or sister is a U.S. citizen. For those who have a brother or sister living in their native country who would like to come to the United States. this change will mean that these families can once again be united. Those of Italian descent will particularly benefit under this section. because 28.680 additional fifth preference visas will be granted to Italy. thereby ending the backlog which has built up over the years. People of greatly diverse origins have come together in this country. and the richest part of our heritage has been our ability to work together for a strong America under which all prosper. The legislation before us today reaffirms that proud heritage. and so I urge its enactment.