Mr. President. a few days ago. I rose on the floor of the Senate to comment on a trip I had taken to Eglin Air Force Base to personally inspect the Vietnam refugee camp there. I stated in my report to this body that. contrary to some allegations. I had found the camp to be wellmanaged. clean and orderly and the spirits of the people high. I was impressed with the demeanor of the refugees I talked with and observed and felt then that surely reports I had read that these people were largely illiterate and improper for resettlement must be without factual basis. For this reason. I was delighted this morning to see on the front page of the New York Times an article titled "Fears on Refugees Called Unfounded." based on a report by the Presidents Interagency Task Force on Vietnamese Refugees. In short the report shows that aspersions previously cast upon these homeless people were without foundation and that the great majority of them are in fact responsible persons. "mostly affluent. educated and from middleclas backgrounds." I think this study is very significant in furthering our understanding of these people to whom the people of America have extended the hand of friendship and. therefore. I ask unanimous consent that this article titled "Fears on Refugees Called Unfounded." from the rriday. June 27. 1975. New York Times. be printed in the RECORD.
Identified stereotypes
Initial reports suggested refugees were illiterate and improper for resettlement, but this is refuted.