It may well be a matter of days if not hours that the evacuation of additional persons other than U.S. citizens will become an impossibility. This legislation that my colleague from New York and I are introducing will demonstrate that once again the United States has offered asylum and resettlement opportunities for the oppressed. the destitute. and the homeless. This bill is patterned after certain sections of the Migration and Refugee Assistance Act of 1962. That act provided the authorization for the appropriations of funds to assist those Cuban refugees who fled to the United States. The Migration and Refugee Assistance Act of 1975. like the 1962 legislation. would provide assistance to or on behalf of refugees who flee Cambodia and South Vietnam because of persecution or fear of persecution on account of race. religion. or political opinion. Specifically. it provides assistance to State and local public agencies for providing services to such refugees including health services. education. and special training for employment as well as assistance for transportation to and resettlement in the United States. It would also provide for the establishment and maintenance of projects for employment. refresher professional training so that the refugees may become selfsufficient. The United States. consistent with the traditional humanitarian regard of the American people for the individual and for his right to a life of dignity and selffulfillment. should continue to express In a practical way its concern and friendship for individuals in free world countries abroad who are uprooted and unsettled as the result of political conditions or military action. The successful reestablishment of refugees. who for political. racial. religious or other reasons are unable or unwilling to return to their country of origin or of nationality under conditions of freedom. dignity. and selfrespect. is importantly related to free world political objectives. These objectives are: First. continuation of the provision of asylum and friendly assistance to the oppressed and persecuted. second. the extension of hope and encouragement to the victims of communism and other forms of despotism. and the promotion of faith among the captive populations in the purposes and processes of freedom and democracy. and third. the exemplification by free citizens of free countries. through actions and sacrifices. of the fundamental humanitarianism which constitutes the basic difference between free and captive societies. The Attorney General has already exercised his discretion and has announced he will authorize parole for certain Vietnamese relatives of U.S. citizens and residents. Assuming the Vietnamese relatives can leave Vietnamand many have already done so--what are we going to do with them when they do come to the United States? This question has been asked time and time again over the last few days. To the best of my information. there is insufficient authority for appropriations to offer care and maintenance and other assistance to the Cambodian and Vietnamese refugees who make their way to the United States. I have been informed that various voluntary agencies are prepared to resettle these refugees but have insufficient funds available to really meet the challenge. The request to the Federal Government for financial assistance has already started. Although the possibility is bleak. we can not totally discount a possible truce or armistice in Vietnam and also the possibility that at some time many Vietnamese will be given the opportunity to leave that country by the conquering North Vietnamese Government.
Keywords matched
Refugee refugees