Mr. President. I want to commend the distinguished senior Senator from Oregon for bringing to .the Senates attention today the deteriorating situation among refugees in Laos. The Senator is performing a unique service in pointing out some recent developments. which are following the earlier Vietnam pattern. in underscoring our Governments insensitivity and lack of priority to the vast human need produced by continuing conflict in all of Indochinaincluding Cambodia. Mr. President. where the press reports today that the bodies of hundreds of Vietnamese civilians are floating down the Mekong River in the southeast part of that country. In the case of Laos. it is incredible that our Government finds the funds and wherewithal to mount up to 600 air sorties a day. but seems incapable of providing the meager humanitarian needs of refugees often deliberately generated by our bombing. As chairman of the Judiciary Subcommittee on Refugees. I share the Senators deep concern over the vast humanitarian dimensions of the mounting war in Indochina. On March 12. I addressed a letter of inquiry to Secretary of State Rogers because of the subcommitees concern about disturbing field reports involving refugees and civilian war casualties in Laos. Earlier this weekafter inexcusable delayI received the Departments response to my questions. In all candor.
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