Mr. President. the recent rededication of Ellis Island is a vivid reminder of the rich immigrant heritage of our great Nation. As the only Immigrant serving in the U.S. Senate. I am proud of this tradition. I strongly believe that immigrants enrich our countryboth culturally and Intellectually. If there is one thing that distinguishes us from other nations. it Is the fact that virtually all U.S. citizens are immigrants themselves or descendants of immigrantssons and daughters of immigrants or grandsons and granddaughters of immigrants. Indeed. more than 100 million Americansabout 40 percent of our Nations populationcan trace their roots through someone who entered Ellis Island In the years 1892 through Vice President QUAYLE spoke at the rededication ceremony. His remarks about the Journey of millions of Immigrants which took them through Ellis Island were moving. He said: Look out there now. to that beautiful harbor. and you can picture themthose travelers of an earlier time who spent weeks of loneliness and privation in dark. dank steerage. Picture the steamers drawing nearand suddenly hundreds of people pouring onto the decks. You can almost see how those tired eyes strained for their first glimpse of the worlds symbol of freedom.
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