President. I want today to join with Senator CHILES and Senator GURNEY in support of their amendment to the foreign aid appropriations bill. This amendment would. as I understand it. delete the language in the Senate bill which calls for the cutting off of funds after February 22. 1972. for furnishing medical and welfare payments to refugees who have resided in the United States for 3 years. If funds for these programs are actually cut off after February 22. it would mean a withdrawal of Federal refugee reimbursements to the States totaling $68.000.000. This is an enormous burden to bear. particulary considering the fact that it comes without warning. Florida is one example of a State which has been forwardlooking enough to plan for the eventual phasing out of the Cuban refugee acsistance program. But now is certainly not the time. Florida has educational and welfare programs which simply cannot go forward without Federal funding.
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refugee refugees