Speaker. on October 20. four Salvadoran women were supposed to receive the first Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights Award here in Washington. Unfortunately. the date passed and no one was able to claim the award. because these women were denied visas. The State Department chose to invoke provisions of the 1952 McCarranWalter Act. which enables consular officers to deny visas on political and ideological grounds. I am very disturbed by this latest denial of visas. I believe It is an embarassment to our foreign policy and an infringement of the right of American citizens to hear from a broad range of views. This incident points up the need to reform our immigration laws. No one should be denied a visa because of the opinions he or she holds. however abhorrent these may be. that persons expected behavior should be the basis for denying a visa. Mr. Speaker. the Philadelphia Inquirer printed an excellent editorial on the subject. and I ask that it be reprinted here in the RECORD. (From the Philadelphia Inquirer.
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