Speech #940056961

We were satisfied at the conclusion that we would not ask the taxpayers of this country to subsidize the cost of relocation. the cost of financial assistance to those people who are more able to take care of themselves than my colleagues and I are. or the other people here. The point I would like to make. though. is the criticism that is being raisedand it is legitimate criticismas to why we are not doing more for the unemployed in this country and why we are not doing more for those people who are being affected by this crisis. economic crisis. plaguing this Nation. The issue before us today is one issue and that is whether or not we are going to do something for these refugees. It is a tragedy that the current administration has decided not to support the unemployed in this country. and that the President has said numerous times that he would veto legislation involving additional programs and financial aid to assist those people who have been laid off of their jobs. or those people on fixed incomes. But the issue today does not involve that question. We are being asked today to decide whether or not we are going to support refugees who had to leave their native lands because of economic. religious. and political oppression. That is the sole issue before us. There is no other Issue.