Speech #880018305

Speaker. I have today introduced a bill to alleviate the conditions of substantial and persistent unemployment that exist and have existed in the district which I represent. Such conditions exist not only because of the usual reasons for unemployment but also because of the unusual economic distress and unemployment caused by the impact of approximately 150.000 refugees residing in this area who have fled the tyranny and oppression of the Communist government of Cuba. My bill will bring jobs and economic assistance to American citizens who. because of this unusual condition. find themselves unemployed and otherwise economically distressed. Mr. Speaker. since the Castro Communist government of Cuba has enslaved the people of that unhappy country. approximately 200.000 persons have escaped the tyranny and oppression existing there and sought refuge in the United States. The bulk of these people are in the Miami area. Despite the generous assistance of the Catholic church and others. our local citizens. individually. local governments and many voluntary agenciesit soon became obvious that the needs of these refugees could not be met solely out of local resources. no matter how willing the local citizens nor how desirable such a solution might be. I thereupon immediately urged recognition of the existence of the Cuban refugees and the problems caused thereby as being the primary responsibility of the Federal Government. Two administrations and the Congress of the United States have generously responded to my requests to assist the people of the district which I represent in dealing with the problems. economic and otherwise. created by the Cuban refugees. Today I must again ask my colleagues and advise the Nation that the people of Floridas Fourth District are in need of additional assistance as a result of approximately 150.000 Cuban refugees still residing in our midst. This has caused tremendous economic pressure since the refugees. very naturally. have tried to obtain and have been successful in obtaining employment. Much of this employment has been at reduced wages. tending to depress the labor market. Every refugee so employed has displaced an American normally employed so that in addition to many thousands of refugees who are unemployed. there are many thousands of Americans also unemployed. The U.S. Department of Labor had long ago determined that there were a sufficient number of unemployed American citizens so as to qualify Dade County as a class D labor surplus market area.