Speech #940057229

It waives clause 2 which prohibits appropriations for matters not previously authorized. and it waives clause 7 which is the 3day rule for Appropriations Committee hearings and reports. Again this is a matter of two emergency waivers. Before final action is taken on this appropriation bill for refugee assistance. we will have taken action on the refugee authorization. The resolution also waives clause 2(1) (G) of rule XI. I earlier commended the House Judiciary Committee on its thorough yet expeditious reporting of the authorization request. and I now wish to extend that commendation to the Appropriations Committee. We have demonstrated in these two bills that we can act quickly and responsibly in a genuine emergency. and the current refugee situation certainly qualifies under that heading. Mr. Speaker. the legislation which this rule makes in order appropriates $305 million for the relocation and resettlement of Indochina refugees through June 30. 1976. and another $100 million in assistance for refugees in the United States. As has already been made clear during discussion of the authorization. these funds are urgently needed to break the current bottleneck at the various refugee centers and assist private and public agencies with the resettlement process and related services. Mr. Speaker. while the administration had originally requested $507 million. this was based on an estimate of 150.000 refugees. The actual number now stands at around 115.000. and thus this reduction of $102 million tends to reflect needs based on these most recent figures. The Presidents Director of the Interagency Task Force on Refugees. L. Dean Brown. has termed this bill. "a solid endorsement of the Presidents request." and he went on to say. "We will work with this. and if it does not work. we will come back for more." Mr. Speaker. I think the major concern of many Americans has been the potential impact of such a large influx of refugees on an already strained economy. But the fact is that of the 115.000 refugees. about 60 percent are children. some 20.000 have American sponsors. and only about 30.000 are heads of households and thus potential job seekers. Early profiles indicate that the majority of these are highly skilled and educated and can be absorbed easily into our labor force. We are all aware of the fact that when the French were defeated at Dienbienphu and Vietnam was partioned. some 700.000 Vietnamese fled from the north to the south. What is little noted is the fact that 60.000 migrated to France and most were easily absorbed into that society. If France. which is onefourth the population of the United States. can absorb half the number of refugees now at our doors. I am confident that this great "melting pot" can handle the refugee challenge without serious discomfort or dislocation. We owe it to ourselves and our heritage as a Nation of immigrants and the land of the free to open our doors and welcome these new immigrants.