Press Release, President's Commission on Migratory Labor

407-E F. FILED BY MR. HOPKINS IMMEDIATE RELEASE JUNE 23, 1950 JUN 2 4 1950 # The President's Commission on Migratory Labor is holding its first meeting todey to hear fects presented by government agencies on migratory labor problems. The Commission was appointed by the President June 3, 1950. During this meeting the Commission is receiving data from the Department of Labor on manpower problems, existing legislation and housing difficulties; from the Department of Agriculture con- cerning industries using migratory labor; from the Department of State, on international complications; from the Department of Justice on immigration aspects, and from the Federal Security Agency on welfare problems. The Commission also is planning for hearings with private and church organizations which, it ie expected, will be held in the next two weeks in Washington. The Commission will formally open its offices next Monday, June 26, in Temporary Building V at 14th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W. The two Washington neetings will form the background for public hearings in various sections of the nation, beginning in California and Texas. Numbers of migratory workers in the United States have been variously estinated at from one to five million. The Comnission's study will center upon three important and related questions: 1. The social, economic, health, and educational conditions among migratory workers in the United States, and responsi- bilities now being assumed by Federal, State, county, and municipal authorities to alleviate conditions among these workers. 2. The problems created by the migration into the United States of alien workers for temporary employment, and the extent to which alien workers are now required to supplement the domestic labor supply. 3. The extent of illegal migration of foreign workers into the United States, and whether and how law enforcement measures may be improved to eliminate illgal migration. Members of the Commission are: Maurice T. Van Hecke, Professor of Law, North Carolina University, Chairman Robert E. Lucey, Catholic Archbishop of San Antonio, Texas William Leiserson, Former Chairman of the Mediation Board Peter H. Odegard, University of California, Professor, Political Science Headquarters. : - Temp. "V"- 14 th L Pensy lvania ane n.w. begining June 26-1950. EB