These Samuel Gompers, Albert Einstein, David Dubinsky, and Irving Berlin. names come immediately to mind, but there must have been hundreds of others with great abilities who were equally anxious to enter this country but who were denied that opportunity or became discouraged at the long delays. The legislation which we are discussing today helps correct many of the injustices that have long been part of our immigration system and would make more equitable our immigration procedures. It recognizes human values by permitting the reunion of family members; by lowering the bars which preclude those afflicted with certain illnesses; and by admitting additional refugees. It takes into consideration the contributions which craftsmen can make to our economy. The emphasis for first preference under our present law is placed upon admission of those with technical skills. Opportunity should also be given those with trade skills. A major objective of this legislation is to eliminate the long delays, the heartaches, and discouragements which the national origins system fosters. The late President Kennedy, while a Senator, called the national origins quota system "the most blatant piece of discrimination in this Nation's history." I feel his appraisal was entirely correct. This new legislation would promote the entry of desirable immigrants on a basis responsive to national need and international responsibility. At the same time, it would protect our country from infiltration by those who would destroy or impair its political institutions. Many of the Members of the Congress, I am sure, are continually faced with heartbreaking problems of constituents who wish to be reunited with loved ones abroad. Many are naturalized citizens who have come here from every part of the world and have made valuable contributions to our civic and political life, and to our industrial and financial growth. Many of those who have become good American citizens have relatives abroad who have waited years to join their kinsmen in this country. Quite recently, I became interested in the plight of a 3-year-old child, a Yugoslav national, unwanted by her natural parents in that country. A couple in my Fourth District in New Jersey offered to adopt the child, but could not carry out their plan because of the quota system. Happily, we were able, through a liberal interpretation of the regulations, to effect the child's admission. I had the pleasure of meeting the child and her adopted mother at Kennedy International Airport this week. The happy conclusion of this case is the exception which points up the need for a more liberal law. How can one measure in human values the benefits which will surely be showered upon this child and her adopted parents by this little girl's entry into our country. When one considers that there must be hundreds, if not thousands, of similar esses pending, one can imagine the widespread favorable ramifications of adopting a more liberal and equitable immigration policy. I have not explained the specific provisions of the new legislation or the inequities of our existing law's quota allocations. Others are better prepared to provide such information. My purpose is to plead the urgent need for immediate revision of the law in terms of the human values involved and our posture with other nations throughout the world. Passage of this legislation will give us an opportunity to prove to other people that we truly believe in the stanzas of Emma Lazarus, as inscribed on the base of the Statue of Liberty in New York Harbor. "Give me your tired, your poor, Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, The wretched refuse of your teeming shore, Send these, your homeless, tempest toss't to me, I lift my lamp beside the golden door." STATEMENT OF HON. HERMAN TOLL, A REPRESENTATIVE IN CONGRESS FROM THE STATE OF PENNSYLVANIA It is a privilege to present this statement on behalf of my bill, H.R. 7960, and I thank the chairman and members of the subcommittee for the opportunity to do The experience under the Immigration and Nationality Act, since it was enacted in 1952. has corroborated the views of Presidents Truman and Kennedy and the major religious, labor, nationality, and community organizations, that the policy on which the law is based and the law itself are designed to exclude people and not to facilitate their entry. The law constitutes an obstacle race for new Americans and not an avenue for immigration. The single major defect of our immigration code is retention of the discriminatory national-origins quota system as the basis for admission. This formula was first adopted in the isolationist period of the 1920's. The present law is not only exclusionary, but its deportation provisions are harsh beyond reasonable requirements, and inequities in the law as berween native-born and naturalized citizens make a farce of the principle of naturalization. It is because of these and other discriminatory features of the present law that the great 1960 Democratic National Convention included a forthright plank on immigration in the party platform. That plank Calls for adjustment of present American immigration, nationality, and refugee policies to eliminate discrimination and to enable members of scattered families abroad to be united with relatives already in our midst. Acknowledges that the national origins quota system of limiting immigra tion contradicts the founding principles of this Nation and is inconsistent without belief in the rights of man. Reaffirms adherence of the Democratic Pary to the principle that enlightened immigration, naturalization, and refugee policies, and the humane administration of them, are important aspects of American foreign policy. Recognizes that laws to bring greater skills to our land, reunite families. permit the United States to meet its fair share of world programs of rescue and rehabilitation are important factors in the growth of the American economy. The deficiencies of our present law are also responsible for the historic call made by President Kennedy in his special immigration message to the Congress on July 23, 1963. The President's demand for correction of the unequal and discriminatory provisions of the present immigration law has met with widespread approval by citizens and citizens' groups. On August 8, 1963, 72 organizations affiliated in the American Immigration and Citizenship Conference commended the President for his message, in particular his recommendation to substitute an equitable and nondiscriminatory formula for the iniquitous, national origins quota system. Attached to this testimony is the full text of that brief joint statement with a listing of the 72 signatory organizations. It will be seen that they are representative of the religious, labor, nationality, and civic groups that make up these great United States. Within 60 days after he assumed the Presidency, following the grievous tragedy suffered by our Nation when President Kennedy was assassinated, President Johnson met with a representative group of some 50 congressional leaders and leaders of private national organizations to indicate his complete support for reform of the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1952, our present immigration code. The committee will also be interested to know that immigration reform, along the lines of President Kennedy's message and my bill, H.R. 7960, has the approval of practically all leading organizations and citizens in Philadelphia. On May 13, 1963, 45 organizations cooperated in the Second Annual Greater Philadelphia Conference on American Immigration Policy, Citizenship, and Refugee Matters. The representative nature of this conference is reflected in the list of cooperating agencies which are: AFL-CIO, Philadelphia council; American Committee for Italian Migration, Philadelphia chapter; American Jewish Committee, Philsdelphia chapter; American Jewish Congress, Greater Philadelphia region; AntiDefamation League of B'nai B'rith; Association of Immigration & Nationality Lawyers; Association of Philadelphia Settlements; B'nai B'rith of PhiladelphiaMen and Women; Board of Rabbis of Greater Philadelphia; Catholic Resettlement Council; Casa Del Carmen; Commission on Human Relations; Division of School Extension, School District of Philadelphia; Episcopal Community Services: Episcopal Diocese of Pennsylvania; Family Service of Philadelphia: Federation of American Hellenic Societies; Federal Bar Association; Fellowship Commission: Greater Philadelphia Council of Churches, Community Services Department; Health and Welfare Council, HIAS and Council Migration Service; International House of Philadelphia, Inc.; International Institute of Philadelphia; Jewish Community Relations Council of Greater Philadelphia; Jewish Employment and Vocational Service; Jewish Family Service; Jewish Labor Committee; League of Women Voters of Philadelphia; Legal Aid Society of Philadelphia; Lithuanian American Society; Lutheran Board of Social Ministry; National Association for the Advancement of Colored People; National Association of Social Workers, Philadelphia chapter; Neighborhood Friends Guild; Netherlands American Association; Philadelphia Citizens Committee on Immigration and Citizenship; Philadelphia Council for International Visitors; Philadelphia Housing Authority, Social Services; Travelers Aid Society of Philadelphia; United World Federalists; YMCA of Philadelphia, and YWCA. As at the first conference held in March 1962, Gregory Lagakos, Esq., an eminent member of the Philadelphia bar and then president of International Institute of Philadelphia, was chairman of the conference. The cochairmen of the conference committee were Jules Cohen, executive director of the Jewish Community Relations Council of Greater Philadelphia and Sharon Hatch, executive director, International Institute of Philadelphia. The other committee members were: Tess Corens, HIAS and Council Migration Service; Florence Davies, Episcopal Diocese of Pennsylvania; Herman Gart, Jewish Employment and Vocational Service; Lary Groth, Commission on Human Relations; Helen E. Heydrick, Greater Philadelphia Council of Churches; Melba Hyde, International Institute; Audrey Maetzold, Health and Welfare Council; Beatrice Muller, Jewish Family Service; Richard F. Smith, American Friends Service Committee; Joseph Vanko, Catholic Resettlement Council; Grace Yocum, Travelers Aid. This significant meeting was not a legislative conference. It was convened for informational and educational purposes. Nevertheless, it is quite clear from the summary of the proceedings that in Philadelphia, as elsewhere, there is widespread support for substantial improvement of American immigration policy and extensive revision of the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1952, to eliminate unnecessary exclusionary provisions, the unfair national origins quota system, and other discriminatory sections. I introduced H.R. 7960 on August 6, 1963, to help carry out the recommendations made by the late and beloved President Kennedy in his July 23, 1963, message. Those recommendations have my full and unequivocal support. Respectfully, and strongly, I urge this Subcommittee on Immigration and Nationality to report out favorably H.R. 7960. Enactment of my measure by the U.S. Congress would, in large measure, redeem the pledge made by the Democratic Party in its 1960 platform plank on immigration. This becomes especially important on the eve of the 1964 Democratic Party Convention. The Democratic Party pledge on immigration reflects my views on the subject of immigration, nationality, and citizenship. It is also clear that enactment of my bill would be in keeping with the announced wishes of the citizens of Philadelphia, as well as the rest of the country. My bill, H.R. 7960, is identical with H.R. 7700, introduced by the eminent chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, the Honorable Emanuel Celler. Since Congressman Celler presented an excellent detailed analysis of his bill in his July 11 testimony, at these hearings, I will avoid repetition and save the time of the committee by omitting my own analysis. To the President of the United States: AUGUST 7, 1964. We, the undersigned organizations, wish to endorse strongly the historic step you have taken in your message of July 23 in calling for the elimination of the national origins quota system. We have long urged the removal of this discriminatory aspect of our American immigration policy. We are greatly encouraged and wish to express our appreciation for the outstanding leadership you are giving in this major field of human rights. American Baptist Home Mission Societies. American Civil Liberties Union. American Council for Emigres in the Professions. American Council for Nationalities Service. American Committee on Italian Migration. American Federation of Jews from Central Europe, Inc. American Federation of Musicians. American Friends Service Committee. American Fund for Czechoslovak Refugees. American Jewish Committee. American Jewish Congress. Anti-Defamation League of B'nai B'rith. B'nai B'rith, National Commission on Citizenship, Veterans and Community Affairs. Brethren Service Commission. Catholic Committee for Refugees. Catholic Relief Services, NCWC. Church World Service, National Council of Churches of Christ. Council for Christian Social Action of the United Church of Christ. Division of Immigration and Americanization, Commonwealth of Massachusetts. General Conference of Seventh-Day Adventists. Governor's Commission on Refugees, Boston, Mass. Immigrants' Service League. International Institute of Gary, Ind. International Institute of Greater Bridgeport, Inc. International Institute of Los Angeles. International Institute of Metropolitan Detroit. International Institute of Providence, Inc. International Institute of San Francisco. International Institute of Toledo, Inc. International Rescue Committee. International Social Service-American Branch. International Union of Electrical, Radio & Machine Workers, AFL-CIO. International Union, United Automobile, Aerospace & Agricultural Implement Workers of America, UAW. Iuliu Manlu American Romanian Relief Society. Italian Welfare League. Japanese American Citizens League. Jewish Community Relations Council of Greater Philadelphia. Jewish Community Relations Council of Greater Pittsburgh. Jewish Counseling and Service Agency. Jewish Labor Committee. Jewish War Veterans in the U.S.A., National Ladies Auxiliary. Methodist Committee for Overseas Relief. Michigan Committee on Immigration. National Board YWCA. National Catholic Rural Life Conference. National Catholic Welfare Conference, Department on Immigration. National Conference of Catholic Charities. National Council of Jewish Women. National Council Protestant Episcopal Church, Department of Christian Social Relations. National Travelers Aid Association. Nationalities Service Center of Philadelphia. Naturalization Council of Metropolitan Area, Kansas City, Mo. New York Association for New Americans. New York Protestant Episcopal City Mission Society. New York Section-National Council of Jewish Women. Order of AHEPA. Philadelphia Citizens Committee on Immigration and Citizenship. Polish American Immigration and Relief Committee. Selfhelp of Emigres from Central Europe. The United Presbyterian Church in the U.S.A., Committee on Resettlement Service. Tolstoy Foundation. Ukrainian Workingmen's Association. Union of American Hebrew Congregations, Social Action Commission. United Friends of Needy and Displaced People of Yugoslavia. United HIAS Service. United States Committee for Refugees. United Steelworkers of America. STATEMENT OF HON. CHARLES A. VANIK, A REPRESENTATIVE IN CONGRESS FROM THE STATE OF OHIO IMMIGRATION ACT AMENDMENTS Mr. Chairman and members of the subcommittee, I appreciate this opportunity to express my support for the pending administration immigration bill, H.R. 7700, which I have cosponsored by introducing an identical bill, H.R. 7908. The major purpose of this bill is to provide a new and improved immigration quota system to replace the national origins quota system which has formed the basic policy of our immigration law for the past 40 years. As the testimony which you have received by previous witnesses I am sure has indicated, there is a great deal of dissatisfaction with the present immigration quota system. It has been criticized over the years because it discriminates unjustly among various applicants for immigration solely upon the basis of their place of birth, or in the case of orientals on the basis of race. It has also been pointed out that the present quota system has not worked to control the makeup of our immigration as it was intended to. Since the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1952 reenacted the national origins quota system only one-third of our immigrants have come in under the quota. Two-thirds of our immigration during this period has not been controlled by the quota. Major portions of this nonquota immigration have been made up of Western Hemisphere natives and the beneficiaries of special legislation granting nonquota status to refugees, orphans, and preference aliens, including those with special skills, and relatives of U.S. citizens. The special laws that have been enacted for this purpose provide mute testimony of the shortcomings of the national origins quota system in meeting the immigration problems we have had to face. Mr. Chairman, during the course of these hearings you have heard from the Secretary of State, the Attorney General, and the Secretary of Labor concerning the need for this bill and the manner in which it would be administered. The Secretary of State discussed with you the foreign policy aspects of the bill and of our present quota system. He pointed out that the peoples of other lands have been given a false picture of our immigration policy, that they are not as aware of the true nature of our immigration in recent years-only one-third of which has been controlled by the quota-as they are of the quota system which in their eyes discriminates against them. Secretary Rusk also mentioned the important fact that the national origins quota system offends many people who have no intention of immigrating to this country. Just the fact that their country is given a minimum quota while other countries receive huge quotas which largely go unused makes them think that immigrants from other countries are to be preferred to them. The Attorney General spoke to you concerning the shortcomings of the national origins quota system which is administered within the Justice Department by the Immigration and Naturalization Service. Both he and Secretary of Labor Wirtz dispelled any notions that the bill would invite a wholesale increase in immigration or adversely affect labor conditions in this country. Mr. Chairman, I believe that this bill provides a sound, workable substitute for the national origins quota system. We have waited many years for legislation of these merits to be formulated. I would like to add my voice to the many others you have heard in urging that this bill be adopted. STATEMENT OF HON. JOHN W. WYDLER, A REPRESENTATIVE IN CONGRESS FROM THE STATE OF NEW YORK Mr. Chairman, I wish to thank you for the invitation you personally extended to me to appear before your subcommittee, having special jurisdiction over immigration and nationality, to testify in support of the bill which I introduced last year. It was one of my first acts as a new Congressman. I do not presume as a new Member of Congress-to tell this committee exactly what kind of a bill to write. I believe the bill I sponsored outlines the general objectives it should seek to obtain. These are (1) a fair and modern way of setting quotas within the reasonable limitations set on immigration, (2) the use of unused quotas by those otherwise eligible, and (3) an elimination of the myriad special exceptions to the present law. If this committee will devise and submit such a bill it will have my support and, I believe, pass the Congress. The platforms of both major parties have called for such action for years. I realize that there is concern and fear over such a change. The bill must be compassionate and will favor, when compared to present laws, the peoples of southern Europe. This would be new, but should not be unwelcomed. It is fair and just. When the Pilgrims landed on Plymouth Rock, immigration to America had begun. It has continued ever since, and America has become known as the "land of opportunity." Since colonial times those who came in on each wave of immigration brought skills and resourcefulness which have contributed to our economic, |