Speech #940062600

Mr. Speaker. I rise in support of the conference report on H.R. 6755. the Indochina Migration and Refugee Assistance Act of 1975. I am happy that the Congress has been able to act with speed in this emergency to authorize assistance to the refugees of Vietnam and Cambodia. Both bodies have acted and at a conference. yesterday. our differences were reconciled and we are now able to bring this up for considerationan authorization bill as agreed on by your conferees. The bill is quite similar to that passed last week by this House. One difference which I would like to emphasize. one I believe strengthens this bill and the opportunity for congressional oversight over this refugee program. The bill reported b - your conferees requires the President to consult with and keep the appropriate committees of each body fully and currently informed of the use of funds and the exercise of functions authorized in this act. The President is also required to file a report within 30 days and subsequent reports within each 90 days thereafter setting forth: First. the plan for resettlement of the refugees remaining in various staging areas. second. the number of refugees who seek to return to their homeland and the plans to implement that return. including the efforts of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. and third. steps taken by the President to retrieve moneys which were authorized for other assistance to South Vietnam. These moneys would be redeposited in the Treasury as miscellaneous receipts. Mr. Speaker. these additions to the original House reporting requirements represent those areas where the Senate receded from its position that the President be required to take certain affirmative actions to provide for the return of refugees and for the retrieval of such aid money. I am sure that this reporting requirement. together with the oversight which we intend to conduct with respect to this refugee program will result in the executive branch complying with our wishes in these regards. I wish to point out that during the course of our hearings in this matter. the interagency task force members have been most cooperative in complying with the suggestions of the subcommittee with respect to this refugee program. I am sure with continued cooperation. together with this strengthened reporting requirement. this program will be a successful one. Mr. Speaker. I wish to congratulate the chairman of the Judiciary Committee and the chairman of the Subcommittee on Immigration and my fellow conferees for their cooperation and perseverance to bring this matter to the House for final passage today. The original bill was introduced May 7. In only 14 days we have completed the legislative process.