Mr. President. for about 12 years now the United States has welcomed with open arms refugees from Castro communism in Cuba. The flow of refugees from that unhappy island started to the United States of America shortly after Castro came into power. During the early years the refugees came over on commercial airplanes. and actually in far greater numbers than they have in later years in the airlift. trying to get out of Cuba and away from communism. Early in this flight from Cuba. the United States recognized that there was a very special problem. as far as helping out in the resettling of these refugees from Castro was concerned. and as early as the Eisenhower administration. a relief and welfare program was established by the Federal Government to help out the State of Florida in its financial problems caused by this influx of refugees. Somewhat later a Cuban refugee center was established in Miami. Even later. during the Kennedy administration. a resettlement program was undertaken to transfer some of the refugees. a portion of them. to other parts of the United States. so all the burden would not be placed upon Florida. During four administrations now. under President Eisenhower. President Kennedy. President Johnson. and President Nixon. we have recognized this Cuban refugee program and we have assisted the States involved. that number not only Florida but 13 other States. in rather subtantial size. and others of lesser size. in financial liability for this refugee program. What we have here is a national program. not a State program. and this was dramatically and highly emphasized during President Johnsons administration when he publicly extended the hand of welcome and freedom to any refugee in Cuba -who wanted to flee Castro and come to the United States. The reason why the President did that was that Castro himself. in the year 1965. in September. broadcast to the world that anybody who wanted to leave Cuba could do so. and that he. Castro. would assist him in leaving. President Johnson took up this challenge and extended the hand of welcome to anyone who wanted to leave Cuba and come to this country. So what we have here is a national program. a national program launched by a President of the United States and backed up by four Presidents of the United States and four administrations. to encourage and aid in this Cuban refugee program. It has become a quite sizable program moneywise. and this bill provides $129 million for the program. which emphasizes the importance to the various States involved in helping out the Cuban refugees. All of a sudden. in this bill. with this language -that I am seeking to strike out. this Cuban refugee program will be terminated starting February 22 of this year. Actually. the language says that all of those refugees who have been here 3 years or more will not be entitled to further medical or welfare payments. Well. what -this means. of course. is that the burden is going to be cast upon the several States. As a matter of fact. a letter from the Secretary of the Department of Health.
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refugee refugees