The present act prohibits the use of agency assufrances. This has been one of the chief barriers to the orderly operation of this program. The voluntary agencies have been ready. willing. and anxious to cooperate with this program and to help make it a success. but they have been severely handicapped in doing so by the. language of this actand by the administrative interpretation of itwhich has prevented the voluntary agencies from providing the assurances and from assuming the responsibility for placing these immigrants in suitable housing and jobs. There has been very bitter feeling about this provision and I believe it should be repealed and agency assurances should be accepted. These agencies are fine. upright. and reputable organizations. They did a marvelous job with the displacedpersons program. They can be trusted to perform similarly with the refugee relief program. The agency assurances worked with the displacedpersons programand they will work with the refugee relief program. The provision covering this matter in S. 1794. namely. section 6 (a) is. in my Judgment. preferable to that in the Watkins bill. Both bills have a provision relaxing present restrictions for individuals already in the United States who qualify under the terms of the Refugee Relief Act. The Watkins bill increases the number who will be so eligible from 5.000 to 10.000. I strongly approve of this increase in the number.
Keywords matched
Refugee immigrants refugee