Mr. President. as a member of the Appropriations Committee. and particularly as a member of the Foreign Operations Subcommittee which has been considering the many aspects of our foreign assistance program. I was deeply disturbed to read in the newspapers that the full committee has specifically deleted from the continuing resolution any funds for the Cuban refugee program. It is my understanding that a continuing resolution is adopted for the purpose of providing funds at existing levels for ongoing programs. until such time as the specific appropriations legislation can be passed. A continuing resolution should not. in my judgment. be used as a vehicle for terminating programs at a time when they are still under consideration by the appropriate committees and subcommittees. In addition to the procedural question. however. I find it most disturbing that we should attempt to abrogate. suddenly and without warning. a program which has brought so many thousands of political refugees to our shores and on which so many thousands more still depend. Since November 1965. when the program was initiated. "freedom flights" from Castros Cuba have brought 232.000 people to the United States. In order to qualify for these flights. Cuban citizens must declare their intent to immigratea process which leads to loss of jobs. income and property. severe social stigmatization. and even harassment by the Cuban authorities for the many months or years of their wait for a seat on the "freedom flight." Upon their arrival in the United States. it is true that the Cubans are provided with basic welfare assistance. But they do not stay on welfare for very long. According to the Census Bureau. Cubans who have emigrated to the United States. many of whom have settled in my State of Massachusetts. had a median family income of $5.957 in November of 1969. They are hard working people. and have an extremely low unemployment rate. Eightyone percent of the refugees receiving welfare assistance. in fact. are over the age of 60. Mr. President.
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refugee immigratea emigrated refugees