I commend the floor manager. the Senator from Hawaii . for the speed with which he has acted in having hearings on this bill. marking it up and reporting it to the Senate. I also commend his decision -to request that two committee amendments be dropped in order to facilitate enactment of this bill into law. Concern has been expressed by many Americans over the anticipated resettlement of Vietnamese and Cambodian refugees in the United States. Such concern does not indicate a widespread rejection of our ideals. Rather. it -is a natural consequence of the uncertainties arising from our economic situation and the aftermath of our final withdrawal from Vietnam. As we gain the perspective that only time can give. I have no doubts that the response of the American people to the plight of these refugees will be one reflective of our humanitarian ideals. The dramatic upsurge in sponsorship offers for these refugees indicates that such a response is already underway. The essential outlines of the refugee problem are not yet fully known. However. some factors are becoming evident. Estimates of the total refugee population range as high as 150.000. After participating in hearings on the subject. I believe a more realistic figure to be 130.000. Of this figure. approximately 15.000 will likely be resettled in countries other than the United States. Thus. we are really faced with the task of assimilating approximately 115.000 refugees. There are an estimated 30.000 to 35.000 Vietnamese and Cambodian heads of households who eventually will need employment. This is far less than the number originally estimated by some.
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refugee refugees