Mr. President. on behalf of myself and my distinguished colleague on the Subcommittee on Refugees. Senator MATHIAS. I am introducing today an amendment to the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 to provide $2 million for humanitarian assistance to refugees and war victims in Cambodia. This amendment will simply earmark funds authorized under the supporting assistance program. I understand that a similar amendment is being proposed in the House by Congressman FRASER. Nowhere has our sense of national priorities overseas. and the traditional humanitarian concern of the American people. been more distorted than in our aid program to Cambodia. Despite estimates which put the number of Cambodian refugees at more than 2 million in just 2 years. and the number of civilian war casualties in the thousands. our Government has not only rejected appeals for help. but the record suggests that it is our policy not to become "involved" with the problem of war victims in Cambodia. Yet. at the same time. we are willing to become "involved" in providing vast amounts of military hardware and supporting assistance which serves to fuel the war in Cambodia. This policy of neglect was most evident during the recent hearings of the Subcommittee on Refugees. It was revealed during the hearing that a request from a Cambodian Government official for medical supplies was simply bucked back to Washington with no priority and no support. Months passed with no decision. and finally the request was sent over to the American Red Cross which responded by offering vitamin pills.
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Refugees refugees