On January 27. 1961. President Kennedy formally instructed the Secretary of Health. Education. and Welfare Abraham Ribicoff to express his concern and sympathy for the Cuban refugees and to assure them that the United States would do everything possible to expedite their voluntary return to Cuba as soon as conditions there would permit. By Presidential authority. over $5 million has been allocated to support the various cooperative programs of assistance relating to the health. education. and welfare of Cuban refugees in the United States. The estimated cost for a year of operation is between 20 and 30 millions of dollars. The Federal Government has done a splendid job of utilizing these funds to administer a wide variety of programs. to wit: Operation of the Cuban Refugee Center. resettlement of refugee families. financial assistance to needy families in the Miami area and to resettled families in other areas. hospitalization and medical care of the sick. consultations and advisory services to the private agencies. the care and protection of unaccompanied children. distribution of surplus food commodities. emergency welfare services for American citizens repatriated from Cuba. educational loans to deserving Cuban students. an adult education program. as well as elementary and secondary education programs for the children. the retraining of Cuban refugee physicians. attorneys. and other professionals. and. finally. the establishment and operation of a Cuban Refugee Research Center. At the State level. the Florida State Department of Public Welfare has been the principal agency for administering immediate relief to these refugees in the form of financial assistance. child welfare services. and distribution of food. In January 1961 I proposed that a program be initiated for Cuban students to continue their college education in the United States and to utilize the skills of the Cuban professionals who had fled the Communist tyranny of Castro. An immediate program along these lines was announced in January by Dr.
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Refugee refugee refugees