Depcial Defen, Dizezae, ur Shaability Serizes in Degree or Permanent in Nature Anwasting to a Substantial Espartare DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, EDUCATION, AND WELFARE, To: Miss Gertrude Meyers, Visa Section. November 2, 1960. From: Dr. Edward O'Rourke, MOC, USPHS, London. In response to your memorandum of October 27, 1960 the following is the information you require on Mrs. Walker: Mrs. Walker had epileptic attacks at the rate of two or three a year from 1955 to 1959. The attacks were transitory in nature suggestive of petit mal. In April 1959 she was investigated at the neurological department of the London Hospital and started on drug therapy consisting of phenobarbitone and epanutin in P. & E. capsules thrice daily and 250 milligrams of mysoline thrice daily, and has had no attacks since then. She is now able to work. In the absence of any other indication it must be assumed that the condition is hereditary, hence the reason for the class A classification. The prognosis is excellent since she has had no trouble since she has been under treatment. Mr. Haley appeared before a subcommittee of the Committee on the Judiciary, and testified in support of his bill, as follows: Mr. Chairman and members of the Subcommittee on Immigration and Nationality, I appreciate very much the consideration you are giving to my bill, H.R. 2655, a bill for the relief of Mrs. Pamela Gough Walker. The enactment of this legislation would enable Mrs. Walker to obtain a visa so that she could enter the United States to join her husband, Joe Denny Walker, a native American and a former member of the U.S. Air Force. This is one of the most deserving cases I have encountered as a Member of the Congress. Mrs. Walker's visa application was rejected because of a form of epilepsy from which she suffers. I have been advised by the Public Health Service that it is not believed that Mrs. Walker's admission to this country "would present a threat to the public health or a burden on the economy." The Department of State has advised me "that Mrs. Walker has been found eligible to receive a visa in all other respects." I submit with this statement the letters from which these quotations are taken. A brief history of the circumstances leading to the introduction of this bill follows: My constituent, Joe Denny Walker, while stationed in England as a member of the Air Force married Miss Pamela Gough, of Warwickshire, England, in December 1959, with the appropriate permission of the Air Force. On August 10, 1960, in preparation of Mr. Walker's scheduled return to the United States in November 1960, Mrs. Walker applied through the American consul in London, England, for a visa. The visa was denied; and the American consul in London wrote me that the reason for this action was that "Unfortunately it was necessary to refuse Mrs. Walker's application under section 212(A) (4) of the Immigration and Nationality Act as she was found to be suffering from idiopathic epilepsy." Prior to Mr. Walker's return to the United States, I con tacted both the State Department and the U.S. Public Health Service about the visa application. They advised me that there could be no waiver of this one restriction which has prevented the young lady's admission to the United States. It then became apparent that private legislation would present the only way in which this restriction could be removed and Mrs. Walker could legally enter the United States. Immediately following Mr. Walker's return to Florida and his discharge from the Air Force, I discussed the case at length with him and his father, Phillip E. Walker. The father said that he could and would provide any bond necessary to assure that Mrs. Pamela Walker would not become a public charge. (Since this time I have been contacted by a very well-known insurance agency which had been designated by Mr. Walker to take care of these arrangements when they are necessary.) The Walker family is a prominent, well respected, family in Manatee County, Fla., where Mr. Phillip E. Walker is principal of the Jessie P. Miller Elementary School. They own substantial real estate holdings are well able to take care of Mrs. Pamela Walker. The husband, Joe D. Walker, now resides in West Palm Beach, Fla., where he is employed by the Pratt-Whitney Aircraft Florida Research and Development Center. He either is occupying, or will soon occupy, and manage also an apartment building which his family owns in that city. In my opinion this case is one of great merit. To me the evidence indicates that Mrs. Walker's admission will not present a threat to the public health or a burden on our economy. Therefore, I urge you to give favorable consideration to this legislation so that this young couple may soon be reunited. Upon consideration of all the facts in this case, the committee is of the opinion that H.R. 2655 should be enacted and accordingly recommends that the bill do pass. ASPASIA A. KOUMBOURIS (KUMPURIS) June 27, 1961.-Committed to the Committee of the Whole House and ordered to be printed Mr. CHELF, from the Committee on the Judiciary, submitted the following REPORT To accompany H.R. 3694] The Committee on the Judiciary, to whom was referred the bill (H.R. 3694) for the relief of Aspasia A. Koumbouris (Kumpuris), having considered the same, report favorably thereon with amendment and recommend that the bill do pass. On page 1, line 10, strike out the word "statute" and substitute in lieu thereof the word "status". PURPOSE OF THE BILL The purpose of the bill is to grant to the minor child adopted by citizens of the United States the status of a nonquota immigrant which is the status normally enjoyed by the alien minor children of citizens of the United States. The bill provides that the natural parents of the beneficiary shall not be accorded any right, privilege, or status under the Immigration and Nationality Act. The bill has been amended to correct an error in drafting. GENERAL INFORMATION The beneficiary of the bill is a 16-year-old native and citizen of Greece, who was adopted in Athens on March 29, 1956, by her uncle and aunt who are both citizens of the United States presently residing in Little Rock, Ark. She is the beneficiary of an approved fourth preference petition filed in her behalf by her adoptive parents and has been registered on a consular priority list since 1953, but has been held to be ineligible for relief under Public Law 86-363. Information is to the effect that the adoptive parents are financially able to care for the beneficiary. 81525-61 H. Repts., 87-1, vol. 9- 10 |