Speech #920251929

President. this is a very simple amendment. What we are doing here is not increasing the total funding of the supporting assistance program but simply earmarking $70 million to be used for humanitarian concerns and humanitarian relief. Probably. if we did not earmark the funds. approximately onehalf that amount under the present plan would be used for humanitarian relief in Vietnam. but since the incursion from the north. the escalation of military activities in the south. and the increasing number of refugees. civilian war casualties. and war orphans. this amendment reflects the Increasing concern by the American people that we make sure that war victims receive needed humanitarian relief. The figure itself is close to the figures under consideration by AID. They are defensible figures. in that. by earmarking the funds. we are indicating as a Congress and as a people our very deep concern and compassion for those that have been caught in the crossfires of the war on the Indochina peninsula.