The House Immigration Subcommittee today voted out a new immigration reform bill to end the National Origins Quota System and to allow about 50,000 additional immigrants to enter annually. The bill, acted upon after a three-year delay, embodied a number of liberalizing features sought by Presidents Kennedy and Johnson.
The old quota system would be terminated by July 1, 1968. A new system of preference would be established with the top 20 percent going to children of U.S. citizens if the offspring are over 21. An annual ceiling of 170,000 immigrants would be created for countries which had quotas allotted under the old system and they would be treated equally instead of under the old discriminatory system in which more immigrants were permitted from some nations than others.
Policy toward for eigners who are close relatives of American citizens would be liberalized. Parents, spouses and children of U.S. citizens would be admitted without regard to the ceiling of 170,000. Ten percent of admissions would be available to scientists, musicians, artists, and others whose presence would be in the cultural interest of the United States.
The Subcommittee voted for the measure by 8 to 0. One member abstained. The bill now goes to the full Judiciary Committee. Bi-partisan support appears assured and favorable action by Congress is anticipated.
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