Speech #940045573

I do not know whether the gentleman from Florida . who is a very distinguished attorney. or the gentleman from Texas . who is a very distinguished attorney. is correct. I am not positive. because I am a layman. whether the President has the authority to move in with military forces to evacuate American citizens and their dependents under the present restrictions which this section would lift. some of which apply only to South Vietnam. but I believe the gentleman from Texas is correct that the President can. But I am quite certain the gentleman from Minnesota is correct that the dependents of permanent residents of the United States and those who are eligible for immigration who are Vietnamese and those whose lives are in direct and imminent peril would not qualify if this section is lifted. and many of the people for whom we are morally responsible and some of the people for whom we have clear legal responsibility would be abandoned by such an action. Mr. Chairman.