Earlier in the debate. I questioned the chairman of the subcommittee as to the purpose of the legislation which is before us. I asked the chairman whether this legislation and. also the Migration and Refugee Assistance Act of 1968 the legislation it tracks. was intended to provide assistance to refugees who had to leave their homeland because of fear of persecution on account of race. religion. or political opinion and who cannot return there because of fear of persecution on account of race. religion. or political opinion and consequently have urgent need for assistance for the essentials of life. The chairman responded by saying yes. that the local purpose of this legislation was as provided -in section 3. which was to provide assistance and relief to those who were refugees because of persecution or fear of persecution on account of the three categories that I read previously. Mr. Chairman. my amendment is germane because it does not seek to add another class of persons. What my amendment says is that there are several persons or .several groups eligible within the class. the class being those who have to flee their homeland because of fear of persecution because of their political opinions. That is the purpose of the legislation. We would not be addressing this question of assistance if these people were just ordinary refugees. What we are saying is that they are here in the country because they fear persecution because of their political opinions. and that was the same reason we originally gave relief to the Cubans under the legislation which this bill tracks. My amendment.
Keywords matched
Refugee refugees