Speech #920173799

That was something that the U.S. Government selected. and Congress certainly approved of the program. Since that time. we have set up measures whereby there can be some special assistance by way of welfare and medical payments to refugees who come in under the program. The great problem we have with a cutoff date is presently. under the existing system. of the State and the Federal Government sharing in the welfare program. If you place a cutoff date in this bill. what you are saying to those people who are eligible and who can qualify for assistance under our existing welfare program is that the States are going to be responsible for carrying on the major share of that burden. Perhaps $68 million will be saved on this program if this cutoff date is put in. but $40 million of that will be passed over to the States. and the State of Florida is going to be passed over with respect to $12 million to $14 million of that money. That is a burden for which Florida did not ask. Florida has a tremendous burden with respect to State services by virtue of having these new citizens. these new refugees. in the State.