Speech #870284460

Also. since these children have no relatives or friends. the agency expects more from the foster parents in the way of providing recreation and other services to the Cuban children. These two factors account for the higher board rate paid foster parents. The House committee. in acting on the administrations request for $70.100.000 to administer the Cuban refugee program. reduced this figure to $55 million. or by $15.110.000. or 21 percent. The subcommittee report gave no specific reasons for the reduction except to indicate that it felt that the amount requested for the care of unaccompanied children in institutions and in foster family homes was too high and should be reexamined by the officials in charge of the program. The total amount of funds requested for unaccompanied children was $13.800.000. The subcommittee action would allow only 42 percent more funds during fiscal year 1963 than were available during fiscal year 1962 although it is estimated that there will be 106 percent more Cuban refugees in this country during fiscal year 1963 than in fiscal year 1962 who will be eligible for assistance and service. Even if a review should determine that it is possible to reduce the amounts paid for the care of unaccompanied children. the savings which would result could not possibly come close to making up the $15.110.000 reduction made by the subcommittee since only a total of $13.800.000 was requested in the budget for this purpose. Accordingly. it would be necessary to reduce the amounts given monthly to needy refugees for food. shelter. and clothing below the current average paynient of $75 a month per family unit even though current payments fall far short of meeting the full financial needs of the refugees. It would also be necessary to reduce the amount of money contemplated for reimbursement to the Dade County. Fla.. public schools. even though recent statistics indicate that the average number of children to be enrolled in the Dade County elementary and secondary schools during the first semester of this year is about 19.500 rather than the 17.000 included in the estimate. Similarly. reductions would have to be made in the amounts contemplated for reimbursement to Dade County for health and other services furnished on behalf of Cuban refugees. Finally. the reduction proposed by the House subcommittee would seriously jeopardize the carrying out of the program of resettling refugees outside of the Miami area since adequate funds would not be available for this purpose. Inasmuch as practically all facilities of the Miami area are being seriously overtaxed by the weekly influx of from 1.600 to 1.800 Cuban refugees. the importance of the resettlement program cannot be overemphasized. Mr. Chairman. first. there are currently 3.767 Cuban children in care2.886 are in group care. 881 are in foster homes. 1.400 of these children are under 12 years of age.