Speech #940058922

Mr.. President.. I am pleased to report a bill which will provide a total of $405 million for assistance to refugees from Cambodia and South Vietnam. This amount is $102 million less than the amount requested by the President and equals the amount approved by the House. On Tuesday of this week the Committee on Appropriations Subcommittee on Foreign Operations held a hearing to examine the Presidents request for $507 million in assistance to refugees from Cambodia and Vietnam. Our inquiry was guided by the firm hope that speedy and meaningful assistance could be provided to these the most recent exiles to our shores. The hearing revealed that. in these urgent times. much is uncertain. There is a very real possibility that the Presidents budget request is substantially in excess of what is necessary and required. The subcommittee learned that the total number of refugees is well below the 150.000 total which was the basis for the Presidents request. The situation remains in a state of flux. The number of refugees presently expected to settle in the United States is approximately 115.000. Some 20.000 of these presently have American sponsors and 12.000 of that number are actually dependents of U.S. citizens. It was initially estimated that 20.000 refugees would be transported to third countries. The exact number which will actually be accepted by third countries remains uncertain and subject to negotiation. It must be pointed out. however. that as of this date only one country. Canada. has made a firm commitment to accept a fixed number of refugees3.000. Although it is hoped that eventually other countries will accept sizable numbers of refugees. I believe it is significant that. 3 weeks after the United States began to evacuate refugees from South Vietnam. only one nation has come forward and identified the number of refugees that it will accept. It is important to understand that the Presidents request for $507 million was based on estimates which even now. after several revisions. are of doubtful accuracy. This is not to criticize those who have devised these programs and made these estimates. In the confused and chaotic considerations under which they began their work. and considering the uncertainties attendant to moving refugees of unknown numbers. the men and women of the Interagency Task Force have done an creditable job. The fact remains. however. that the estimates originally presented are at odds with the current situation. The Committee on Appropriations met on Wednesday and was presented with a choice.