Speech #970225365

I commend my colleague. the distinguished Senator from Wyoming. Mr. SIMPsoN. and Congressman MAZZOLI for their outstanding work in developing the Immigration Reform and Control Act. now being considered by the Senate. In the life of our Nation. there has been no subject of greater importance than immigration because the immigrants have populated and created the great strength of the United States of America. In my own life. there has similarly been no subject of greater importance than immigration because both of my parents were immigrants. My mother. Lillie Shanin Specter. emigrated to the United States at the age of 5 from Poland to St. Joseph. Mo.. with her parents. My father. Harry Specter. emigrated to the United States at age 18 from a small village named Batchkurina. 170 miles south of Kiev in the Ukraine section of Russia. Last month. I had the opportunity to visit my fathers birthplace and saw firsthand how much greater my opportunities were than his. In enacting this legislation. the Congress. the courts. and the administrators of this statute should be ever mindful that the United States continues to be not only the greatest Nation on Earth but the Nation with the greatest opportunity on Earth. The essence of life is freedom. and the core of freedom is the opportunity for the individual to develop his greatest potential. Toward that end. this statute is intended to and should be interpreted to allow the maximum opportunity for as many people as possible to emigrate to the United States. A fundamental principle for statutory construction is that remedial legislation should be liberally construed. Too often. administrators and courts lose sight of a statutes purpose behind labels such as "liberal" or "conservative" with the admonition against judicial lawmaking. This statute is designed to provide the maximum opportunity for immigrants. which is reasonably consistent with its provisions. In case of a tie in baseball. the runner is safe. In horseshoes. points are awarded for being close. Under this statute. the immigrant prevails on less rigid standards. As my law school professor. Freiderich Kessler. used to ask: "Can you make the argument without blushing?" If the immigrants argument can be made without blushing. the immigrant should prevail. This interpretation benefits both the immigrant and the Nation. Our national strength lies in our diversity. The United States of America continues to be the international melting pot where the sky is the limit. and the foreignborn. as well as first or eighth generation Americans. can contribute to the Nation in lofty places such as the U.S. Senate. Our American creed emphasizes the worth of each individual. Let the immigrant applicant become a part of our Nation if at all possible. We shall all be stronger with the implementation of that purpose which is embodied in this important legislation.