Speech #930320636

Mr. Speaker. as we vote on the conference repbrt on the continuing resolution today. it is important to note that this resolution makes no provision for continued expenditures to assist in the resettlement of refugees from the Soviet Union in Israel and elsewhere. This results from the fact that the continuing resolution provides for funding of programs at last years level or at the level requested in the Presidents budget. whichever is lower. Since the President requested no funds for Soviet refugees. this important programinitiated by the Congress in 1972 through the State Department Authorization Act in 1972. 1973. and again this yearis not protected by the resolution before us. This is to say the least a curious result. since it appears that the Congress in this resolution puts programs initiated by the Congress in an inferior category to programs requested by the President. After I expressed concern over this situation when the continuing resolution first came before the House. the gentleman from Louisiana said that interim funding for this program could be taken care of by the President. using his authority to transfer up to $10 million of aid funds to refugee programs. as provided in .the Migrationand Refugee Assistance Act of 1962. � While this is technically possible. I am concerned that sufficient .funds. will not be transferred to keep the Soviet refugee aid* program going. both in Israel and elsewhere. I hope that it will be possible. soon after the Congress returns in November. for the necessary foreign assistance authorization. State Department authorization. and foreign assistance appropriations bills to be enacted. so that proper funding can continue uninterrupted for these Soviet refugee programs. However. if that should prove not to be the case. and if a further continuing resolution should be required before the sine die adjournment of the Congress. then it will be essential for such Soviet refugee aid programs to be provided for in that continuing resolution.. At .that point. the Presidents transfer authority under the Migration and Refugee AssistL ance Act.would clearly be inadequate.to. cope with the situation. since it cannot be wholly used up. for this one purposethere. are. competing demands and. may well. be others. I will communicate with the chairman of the Appropriations Committee at that time. and also with the chairman .of the Foreign Operations Subcommittee. to make sure that the appropriate and necessary language is inserted in the continuing resolution. - Now. I should like to comment on the matter of the language in the conference report calling for a cutoff of military aid and sales to Turkey unless the President finds that the Government of Turkey is making goodfaith efforts to achieve a settlement on Cyprus. and of the substitute language that the gentleman from New York will propose. which requires a cutoff "until and unless the President certifies to the Congress that the Government of Turkey is In compliance with the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961. the Foreign Military Sales Act. and any agreement entered into under such acts. and that substantial progress toward agreement has been made regarding military forces in Cyprus." I have listened carefully to the debate and have concluded. not without considerable difficulty. to support the language agreed to by the conferees.