It is also apparent from news accounts that the procedure for selecting evacuees on the basis of the risk of recrimination broke down entirely. Thousands of people were taken out at random and thousands of others simply headed out to sea on their own to be picked up by American ships. I suggest that our program for dealing with these refugees should include as the highest priority steps to facilitate their early return to Vietnam. We should express to the new government in South Vietnam our interest in implementing such a policy. We should make transportation available and we should stand ready to assist in every possible way in reuniting these people with their families and their country on a voluntary basis. My bill would permit the use of either commercial carriers or American ships and planes to return any refugees who wish to go back to Vietnam now that the panic is subsiding. I fully believe that it will be in the best interest of most of the Vietnam refugees to return to their own country. By Mr. McGOVERN (for himself.
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refugees