Speech #840136163

Mr. President. earlier. on January 24. similar recommendations were made to the Deputy Administrator of the refugee relief program. Mr. Pierce Gerety. Mr. Roland Elliott. director of immigration services for the Church World Service of the National Council of Churches of Christ. sent a letter to Mr. Gerety proposing both administrative changes as well as certain simple legislative changes. I understand that the more than 30 Protestant and Eastern Orthodox churches which make up this organization are spending over a halfmillion dollars a year on the refugee program. Mr. Elliott. as director of immigration services for the National Council of Churches has staff members throughout the world in countries in which the refugee relief program is operating. He is. therefore. in close and constant touch with the way in which the program is being administered. not only here in Washington. but in those countries in which refugees are being processed. Mr. Elliott also wrote to Mr. Gerety as a member of the advisory group to the refugee relief program. I believe his recommendations on the changes that are needed in the program deserve our closest attention. Mr.