Speech #940058892

Mr. President. I would like to speak in strong support of the pending legislation to provide funds for the assistance and resettlement of Cambodian and Vietnamese refugees. At the outset. I want to say that I believe the President of the United States truly spoke for most Americans. when he reminded us not long ago of our important humanitarian and moral responsibilities in extending a warm hand of friendship and welcome to those thousands of homeless refugees who are now reaching our shores. These refugees remind us once again of the oldest theme in our historythat we are a nation of immigrants and refugees. Much of our heritage is built upon the lives and spirit of those who have come to our shores seeking hope. freedom. and an opportunity to build a new life. in a new land. Our Nation has long prided itself on our tradition of compassion and humanitarian concern for the homeless of the world. and for people in need around the globe. But to the Cambodian and Vietnamese refugees now coming to our land. we have a special obligation above and beyond our traditional humanitarian response. For in a very real and direct way we share in their plight. even as we have long been involved in the tragedy and suffering caused by the Indochina war. We have a special responsibility to help restore their lives. in part because we participated in a long war that helped to destroy the life they once knewand because our planes and ships helped many to reach our shores. Mr. President. we also need to put some focus on the refugee issueand reassure those who are skeptical over whether our doors should be open to the new arrivals from Indochina. The numbers involved--even the highest projected number of 130.000are more than manageable. The numbers are small. compared to the 400.000 immigrants we absorb into our society annually. and the estimated 1 million illegal aliens who also remain each year. Clearly. an effective resettlement program for some 100.000 refugees from Indochina. will not overburden our communities or heavily tax our resources for meeting the needs of our own people. And for those who are concerned over the cost of resettling the refugees. the amounts authorized and appropriated in the pending legislation are less than a fourth of what we were spending on military and economic aid to Indochina during the current fiscal year. An appropriation of some $405.000.000 is miniscule compared to the $150 billion we poured into Indochina in more than a decade of war. Mr. President. as chairman of the Judiciary Subcommittee on Refugees. I have closely followed humanitarian problems in Indochina since 1965. And since early April five hearings on the Presidents refugee program and related issues have been held by the subcommittee and the full Committee on the Judiciary. After these extensive hearings. a field report by staff members of the subcommittee. and regular consultations with the private voluntary agencies responsible for resettling the refugees. I can assure the Senate that the funds being considered today are not only needed to assist the refugees in the weeks and months aheadbut they are urgently needed today to get the resettlement program underway. The funds are also urgently needed to encourage and facilitate the resettlement of refugees in third countries. and to support the voluntary repatriation of those who. for personal reasons. choose to return to their native land. Mr. President. with the welfare of the refugees in mind. and our special obligation to help them help themselves. I urge the expeditious consideration and passage of the pending authorization and appropriations for the Indochina refugee program. Mr. President. for a decade. the Indochina war has cut deeply into American life. and has poisoned the spirit of our country and its people.