Mr. Speaker. January 1 of 1992 will mark the 100th anniversary of the opening of Ellis Islanda major gateway of immigration into this country. Since that first day in 1892. 12 million people from all over the world have passed through the doors of Ellis Island. The great American poet. Emma Lazarus described them as "tired. poor. huddled masses yearning to breathe free." During the heavy immigration of the early 1900s. their first view of America was the shining spires of New York city and the noble figure of the Statute of Liberty. however. their first steps on American soil were taken on Ellis Island. Today. over 40 percent of Americans can trace their roots to an individual who passed through Ellis Island. Today. we know them as our grandfathers and grandmothers. our aunts and uncles. members of our families. who struggled and sacrificed to realize their dreams in this country. Some of them came to escape persecution. others came to escape poverty. but all came to forge a new life in a land of freedom and prospertiythe United States of America. It is fitting. therefore. that Ellis Island now serves as a museum to tell the story of American immigration. The Ellis Island Immigration Museum was built through the efforts and private donations of over 20 million Americans. Since its opening last September. over half a million visitors have already toured through the facility. walking through the same halls in which their ancestors were processed years ago. Today on Ellis Island. present and future generations can learn about the history of their families an their Nation. Today. we consider a resolution which I have introduced to commemorate January 1. 1992 as National Ellis Island DayJanuary 1 being the day the first immigrants set foot on Ellis Island almost 100 years ago. I urge my colleagues to support this legislation and in doing so recognize the anniversary of this important national landmark. Ellis Island is a symbol of the hope for freedom and prospertiy which America offered to the world in the past and continues to offer today.
Keywords matched
Immigration immigration immigrants