Speech #920194597

Mr. Chairman. today the House will undoubtedly pass a very important piece of legislationH.R. 9615to grant additional immigrant visas to certain foreign countries. I support this measure and urge its passage. This bill removes two inequities which have been present since the enactment of the 1965 Immigration and Nationality Act. While the 1965 act eliminated the national origins quota system. and rightly so. it also had the unfortunate side effect of barring immigrants from a number of European countries which had been a great source of immigration in the pastthey could no longer qualify under the new preference system. They did not qualify. because either they were unable to compete on an equal basis with immigrants from other countries who had earlier registration dates. or because they lacked labor certification. The second inequity was its failure to remove the fifth preference backlog. which relates to brothers and sisters of U.S. citizens. The additional visas will be available annually to a number of countries. but will particularly affect Ireland and Italy. and will be 75 percent of the 195564 average of immigrant visas issued. less visas issued each year under the permanent provisions of the act. not to exceed 7.500 visas per country per fiscal year. Primarily. the bill will permit entry into the United States of about 16.000 Irish immigrants at the rate of about 4.000 a year and about 28.000 Italian immigrants. at the rate of 7.000 a year. It is to be noted that this is a temporary measure. permitting entry into this country for a period of 4 years to correct the present inequitable situation. For a nation. made up of immigrants. it would be a disgrace not to pass this measure. It will correct certain injustices perpetrated against countries which have been responsible for so many of our good and indeed great citizens. Benefiting most under this bill will be Ireland and Italy.