Mr. Speaker. yesterday we approved legislation allocating almost half a billion dollars for emergency assistance for the Indochina refugees. Many of my constituents are adamantly opposed to this use of tax money at a time when so many of our citizens are in need of help. They are concerned that the refugees will not be dispersed throughout the Nation. but will instead settle in large groups In a few areas. much as the Cuban refugees did in Florida. I fully understand and sympathize with these fears. Particularly in California. which is absorbing the initial influx of the refugees and which has an unemployment rate appreciably above the national average. these concerns are wellfounded. Every effort must be made to distribute the Vietnamese throughout the country in a manner which does not exacerbate employment or welfare problems in any one area. We have reasonable assurances from the Federal agencies involved in the resettlement program that this policy will be followed.
Identified stereotypes
Refugees will settle in large groups and exacerbate employment/welfare problems.