Mr. President. because of my previous experience in working with refugees I have closely followed the historic exodus of more than 100.000 Cubans who have sought refuge in this country from the tyranny of Castro. This is the first time in recent American history that our Nation has been the country of immediate. first asylum for such a large number of refugees from tyranny. We all recall the generous response of the American people to the victims of the Hungarian revolution who managed to escape with their lives. yet it is important to remember that at that time. America opened its doors to just 25.000 refugees from Hungary. Now we are faced with the challenge of assisting four times that number. Mr. President. the people of Florida have done an outstanding job of offering hospitality and assistance to the Cuban refugees but resettling these brave people is not the task of any one State. but it is rather a national responsibility. President Kennedy has recognized this by allocating Federal funds through the Department of Health. Education. and Welfare. In addition. several national voluntary agencies have given unstintingly of their funds and assigned trained personnel. However. the problems of the Cuban refugees are by no means solved. The stream of escapees from Cuba continues. Given our concentration on Berlin and other problems. we cannot afford to lose sight of our responsibility toward refugees from communism only 90 miles away from our shore. Mr. President. I ask unanimous consent that an editorial from the New York Times and a news story from the New York Post regarding the work of the International Rescue Committee with Cuban refugees be printed in the RECORD as a reminder to all of us of the need for continued assistance to Cuban refugees through the Federal Government and through the generous support of the American public of the work of our national voluntary agencies.
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refugees