Speech #920164349

Mr. Chairman. I am concerned that the continuing resolution provides only $100 million for Bangla Desh refugee relief. I appreciate that the Appropriations Committee arrived at the $100 million by taking the lower of three figures-$250 million authorized by the Senate. $175 million appropriated by the House. and $100 million authorized by the House. That is the way continuing resolutions work. However. $100 million is hardly sufficient to meet refugee relief and rehabilitation needs on the Indian subcontinent over the next 3 months. I understand that there was some possibility that the continuing resolution would reflect this urgent need by specifically earmarking $175 millionrather than $100 millionfor refugee relief. This certainly would represent the will of the House. The $175 million is the later of the two figures for refugee relief enacted by this Chamber. And $175 million itself hardly would be sufficient. The administration requested $250 million before the outbreak of war on the subcontinent. Clearly. the requirement is greater than that today. Unfortunately. other sources of funds for refugee relief have about been exhausted. There is $30 million available in the contingency fund. But $18 million in contingency funds have already been used for refugee relief. And much of the balance is now committed. So the contingency fund is no answer. Nor is much authority available to commit foreign assistance funds under the Migration and Refugee Assistance Act. Up to $10 million can be transferred and used under this authority. And already $5 millionor halfhas been drawn down. This is why it is so important that the administration rely on its authority under section 632(g) to use funds available in other accounts for refugee relief. The understanding. of course. is that these accounts will be replenished by the end of the fiscal year. A substantial amount of money programed for India and Pakistan is now available for refugee relief. AID requested a total of $330 million to finance new loans to India and Pakistan. It also asked for about $20 million in technical assistance for both countries. With the cutoff of aid this money is now available for refugee relief. And it can be used under this transferand payback authority. There is another authority available whereby AID can transfer funds between accountsin this case on a permanent basis. It is section 610. Up to 10 percent of the funds in any account can be shifted to another account. so long as the other accounts funds are not increased by more than 20 percent. So development assistance programed for India and Pakistan. for instance. could be shifted to the contingency fund or to supporting assistance to finance refugee relief. I would hope thatwhen and if we get an appropriations act for foreign assistanceit provides something in the order of $250 million for refugee relief. For one thing. any funds transferred under section 632(g) have to be replenished by the end of the year. In addition. the need for such relief for the refugee camps in India is obvious. There are also refugees in Bangla Desh who need help now. And. of course. there is the massive rehabilitation and reconstruction task ahead in Bangla Desh to be undertaken under the continuing resolution.