Speech #1030071863

The diversity of our public consolousness and the unity of our purpose has made us strong. As many of us here. I and my children are from immigrant stock. My grandmother emigrated from England. and my fatherinlaw was from Russia. Like many of our recent immigrants. they came here. worked hard. and improved their lives. Mr. President. today I am introducing comprehensive legislation aimed at overhauling our Nations immigration laws. Immigration is rapidly becoming one of the most critical issues on the national agenda and one which the American people believe requires the urgent attention of Congress. The legislation which I am introducing today is aimed at addressing the growing concern on the part of the American people that our immigration laws lack a purpose and a sense of direction. In 1958. Senator John F. Kennedy published a pamphlet entitled. "A Nation of Immigrants." Since that time the description. "a nation of immigrants" has become almost a national badge of honor. Perhaps as no other nation before ours. we have taken people from many different cultures. religions. and races and melded them into a cohesive unit.-a nation. Moreover. the United States has succeeded in creating this feat in a remarkably brief period of time. In effect. we may have become victims of our own success. Like so many things. we have begun to take for granted the ability of the United States to absorb and assimilate large numbers of newcomers into the mainstream of American life. In recent years. we have lost sight of the fact that being a nation of immigrants is an ideal that requires effort and planning. President Kennedys lofty ideal is in danger of becoming an empty olioh6. Thirtyfive years after the publication of "A Nation of Immigrants" it is fair to say that the United States lacks an immigration policy. Websters defines the term policy as "prudence or wisdom in the management of affairs." Policy also implies an overriding objective and a common understanding of what national good is being served. Yet in 1993. the United States admits a population roughly equivalent to the population of my home State of Nevada every year. and will continue to do so every year for the foreseeable future. without any clear idea of what it is we hope to achieve.