Speech #880029647

However. Mr. Chairman. we have not .only the economic difficulty that arises from the usual reasons of unemployment. but we have in addition. 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. While a tremendous number. approximately 56.452. of these refugees have been resettled into other areas of the United States. there are still approximately 105.000 refugees who have registered but have not resettled. Since there are many refugees who have not registered. the estimate is that there are approximately now 150.000 refugees residing In this area. At the present time it is estimated that there is an American labor force of 409.090. of which 382.900 are employed and 27.000 are unemployed. giving us a real unemployment rate of 6.6 percent. The official unemployment rates for Dade County for recent years. according to information obtained from the Department of Labor. are as follows: 1958. 5.9 percent. 1959. 5.2 percent. 1960. 5.2 percent. 1961. 6.7 percent. 1r62. 5.8 percent. However. Mr. Chairman. this does not include the Cuban refugee labor force and the attendant problems of displacement of American workers. and unemployment of Cuban refugees. The labor force of Cuban refugees is estimated at 53.900. of whom 22.500 are estimated as being employed and 31.400 are unemployed. for the fantastic unemployment rate of 58.4 percent. When the total unemployment rate is considered. it is indicated that there has been persistent and substantial unemployment of approximately 12.6 percent which is far above the national average. Despite the heroic efforts of our local citizens. Catholic. Protestant. and Jewish faiths. local government and voluntary agencies. It soon became obvious that the need of the refugees could not be met solely out of local resources. Two Presidents of the United States and this Congress. at my request. recognized that this was a matter of national concern and responsibility. and accordingly authorized and appropriated funds to assist with the problems of providing for the Cuban refugees. But the economic problem of this existence of unemployment at a high rate in the nonrefugee population as well as the existence of a large labor pool and high unemployment rate among the refugees. has not been resolved by Federal recognition and substantial assistance to the Cuban refugees. The fact is. Mr. Chairman. that there has been tremendous economic pressure as a result of the Cuban refugees residing in our area. They quite logically and normally have sought jobs. Much of this employment has been at reduced wages.